CUTTING HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS — Cutting health insurance costs for home base staff and overseas workers is always challenging. One solution might be to consider a Self-Funded plan. Now groups as small as 11 employees can get self-funded (StopLoss) quotes. One key advantage of a self-funded plan is that you keep more of your health insurance premium in your organization. For more information contact jeff(at)gninsurance(dot)com or call 480/813-9100. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] Toll free in USA: 866/636-9100. Visit

ATTEND REGIONAL MOBILIZATION MEETINGS (SAMPLE IN PITTSBURGH) — Are you located in the Pittsburgh area? Here’s a sampling of a couple of major missionary mobilization meetings you can attend. Wouldn’t it be cool of there were more of these kinds of meetings all around the world? As for Pittsburgh, “The Pittsburgh Network for the Great Commission” Breakfast meeting is about to cover “Native American Awareness.” The’ll also interview a Cuban Pastor, all on Saturday, Oct.13,2007, 8:30- 10:30am at West Ridge Community Church.

You can also catch “Praise & Prayer over Pittsburgh”, 7:00pm, Oct.13, 2007 at West End Overlook Park. Special Guests include Richard Twiss and Darrell Fields, & Michael Duncan Project, Prayer led by Pittsburgh area Pastors. A coordinated effort by the Pittsburgh Prayer Network

PRE-FIELD TRAINING IN ASIA FOR ASIA MINISTRY — For anyone planning to minister in Asia, an excellent nine-week program is conducted once a year in Malaysia. The Malaysian Cross-Cultural Mission School (MCMS) will be conducted in Kuala Lumpur, beginning January 7 and continuing through March 16, 2008. It is an intensive program that covers the practical challenges of cross-cultural ministry. MCMS faculty includes missionaries and mission leaders from many parts of the world who are involved in the real life of a missionary. This is no “Ivory Tower” theoretical pastime; it’s the real thing! For more details, talk with Peter, the director. E-mail:

peters(at)linkmail(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

THE ‘EASY’ TANZANIAN LANGUAGES TEAM NOW HAVE THEIR OWN WEBSITE — This site is

and it is totally Tanzanian as regards authorship, checking, field- testing, copyright and ownership. The leader is Revd Samuel Mpanilehi at smpanilehi(at)gmail(dot)com , who works in close fellowship with

http://www.easyBibles.com

where over twenty such projects are developing.

OMF BC EVENTS IN OCTOBER — OMF (Overseas Missionary Fellowship) in B.C. invites you to the following events: 1. Saturday, October 13 (1:30 – 6:00 pm ending with a Chinese supper), Heart for Asia Conference in Victoria, 2. Friday night, October 19, from 7:30 – 9:30 pm, OMF together with Fujian Evangelical Church (FEC) present Youth and Missions. 3. Saturday, October 20, from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Heart for Asia Conference to be held at Peace Mennonite Church (PMC). The theme for the events is: Passion for the Impossible – Reaching the Neglected Frontiers. For more info, including themes and speakers, email:

pacificregion(at)shawlink(dot)ca or call 604.278.1208.

GLOBAL MISSIOLOGY “ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY” EDITION — Global Missiology is a free quarterly online publication with original research and contributions from practitioners and scholars of international representation with global perspectives. The third quarter English language issue is focused on the subject of “Islam and Christianity” and has just been made available. Chinese and French editions are also available with articles that are not translations of the English, but rather original contributions from specialists working in those language contexts. All versions can be found at

as well as a complete searchable archive of more than 4 years worth of articles. email editor(at)globalmissiology(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

THE COMING REVOLUTION — Because, according to at least one author, Status Quo Missions Won’t Finish The Job. Check out this new book just released by R. Mark Baxter. After some stories and shocking statistics, Mark shares reasons for the present state of missions, the potential that exists to see the Great Commission fulfilled, and ways to personally get involved. More information on The Coming Revolution is available at

OMF REACHING CHINA — International has been reaching East Asia with the gospel since Hudson Taylor founded the organization as China Inland Mission in 1865. If you would like to get involved in a work that includes more than 1,500 workers from 20 countries with a focus on more than 400 unreached people groups throughout East Asia, visit

WHAT’S THE RATIO OF YOUTH WORKERS TO YOUTH IN THE FIELD? — Would anyone happen to know about how many young people there are in any cross-cultural settings? … and how many Christian workers are serving primarily for their benefit? In other words, what’s the ratio of youth workers per youth? Got an idea to post? Just navigate to:

HATS-OFF TO BRIGADA SPONSORS — Thanks to the West Ridge Christian Church

http://www.wrccc.org

for their innovative and encouraging support of regional missions mobilization meetings. May God bless their $100 gift to Brigada. We appreciate you! Thanks, too, for the anonymous donors who gave $100 and $25 this past week, along with the prayer coordinator who gave $25. Thanks, too, to Blessed Hope who gave $15.47 in sponsorship gifts. Learn more about their great phone plans at

Thanks to the Kingdom Come Training worker who gave $20. May God bless their training outreach for His glory.

Finally, may God bless the radio ministry workers who just sent $100. We’re so thankful for their love for you, for your work around the world, and for getting the message out via radio.

WOULD YOUR CHURCH CONSIDER A ONE-TIME GIFT TO SPUR ON BRIGADA? — Here’s how: Just click on the “Donate” page. You can pull the money from your PayPal account or from any major credit card. Or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax-deductible.) As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. And thank you in advance for helping.

THE BACK PAGE: EXPLORE, DREAM, DISCOVER — This past weekend, I was fortunate to have the privilege of leading a couple of sessions for some adult children of missionaries (MKs). One referred to a quote by Mark Twain about sails. I looked it up when I got home. Twain was reported to have said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” It’s important to note that no one can find the source of this quote, so it’s likely that Mark Twain never actually said it. Regardless of who said it, it got me thinking.

And in the process of thinking about it, I came across something that Twain *did* actually say, in “Innocents Abroad”: “What is it that confers the noblest delight? What is that which swells a man’s breast with pride above that which any other experience can bring to him? Discovery! To know that you are walking where none others have walked; that you are beholding what human eye has not see before; that you are breathing a virgin atmosphere. To give birth to an idea-an intellectual nugget, right under the dust of a field that many a brain-plow had gone over before. To be the first–that is the idea. To do something, say something, see something, before anybody else–these are the things that confer a pleasure compared with other pleasures are tame and commonplace, other ecstasies cheap and trivial. Lifetimes of ecstasy crowded into a single moment.”

When it comes to mobilizing missionaries, we haven’t talked much about discovery and adventure — even though much of evangelistic missionary work involves it. I think it’s because we’re afraid we’ll breed only missionary-tourists. But there is a sense in which the pioneer spirit is not only preferred, but actually *required* by some missionary opportunities. Some call it an “apostolic gift.” Call it what you want, but when Paul forged on through shipwrecks & stoning, the truth is, he was pioneering. When he believed so strongly in the Cause that he traveled on foot throughout the known world of his day, he was pioneering. Paul’s musing about going where no man has gone before (Romans 15:20) is enough to cause me to believe Twain was on the right track. We probably need to talk some about adventure, dreaming, thinking big. We need some big thinkers today. Thinkers that will dream, then *do*. After all, Twain also is reported to have said, “There are basically two types of people. People who accomplish things, and people who claim to have accomplished things. The first group is less crowded.” That’s all I’ve got to say about that.

GET A POPULAR EVANGELISTIC VCD FOR CHINA FOR YOUR PEOPLE GROUP — There is a popular evangelistic VCD in China called “Hao Xiaoxi” (Good News) and nobody really knows who created it or where it came from. The VCD is in Mandarin Chinese. Recently, a worker had the soundtrack completely redone without the Mandarin narration and speaking parts, and is now dropping in the language of the minority group with which he works. He has a feeling there are a lot of folks out there working in China among minority groups who would benefit greatly from this “wordless soundtrack”. If this interests you, please send an email to his secure address: taihaole(at)pobox(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] He will try to get you the soundtrack on DVD. (Hats off to this servant-hearted worker!)

WHAT’S THE “BEST RESOURCE” FOR A MISSIONS MINISTRY TO STUDY? — Steve is a great friend of mine and a missions minister in Columbus, Ohio. He’s on the hunt for the one best book (besides the Bible) or video for a missions ministry to read/study together. Let’s come up with the best list we can . . . and get the word out to all those who have similar interests. Post your best answer at…

TOP FIVE ARTICLES ON PRESENTING YOUR WORK — Digital Web Magazine recently featured “top five articles” on giving great presentations. They sum up the best of the best principles, as well as what to avoid. To see the link, click to

http://www.brigada.org

Click on the link to this Brigada Today, then scroll down to this item and click the link that will be here:

It’s a list of political and security hot spots around the world. They update the page often, as needed.

CULTURE SHOCK RUSSIAN STYLE! — Getting ready to visit Russia? “Peterburgers” is a humorously-piled platter that’s culturally insightful and spiritually challenging. Treat yourself and your loved ones to true and funny adventures in Russia’s cultural capital told with culture shock training for missionaries (and their supporters back home) in mind. Order by contacting Bill bill(at)billandrobinharris(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] Copies are $10.00 per copy (plus shipping) or $8.00 per copy when you order two or more. Bite down on “Peterburgers”!

CASE STUDIES AND LEARNING TOOLS FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE — The folks at City Gate

(formally SEN) have updated their website. They’ve posted lots of interesting articles and tools for working in Central Europe. You can also contact them for more info at news(at)CityGate.org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

SIBERIAN RAIL ADVENTURE BOOK — “The Great Siberian Rail Adventure” is the hilariously heart-stopping, true story of the Harris family’s journey by car, ship, and rail across Russia. Come along and you’ll find a dragon, an axe-wielding conductor, a supersonic clothes washer, and a van with a death wish. Order by contacting Bill bill(at)billandrobinharris(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] Copies are $10.00 per copy (plus shipping) or $8.00 per copy when you order two or more. Climb aboard!

NEXUS: THE WORLD HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT READER — In this new book edited by Rad Zdero (author of “The Global House Church Movement”), a team of almost 40 house church movement leaders and academics from around the world have written over 60 provocative articles designed to inform, inspire, and invite you to start your own network of multiplying house churches no matter where you live. This book reports on some of the amazing things God is up to today through saturation house church planting, as well as providing biblical insights, historical lessons, and practical strategies. (Paperback – 528 pages – 62 chapters). To order call 1-706-554-1594 (outside the USA), call 1- 800-MISSION (inside the USA), go to

or send email to STL(at)WCLbooks(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

CAN YOU HELP THIS RESEARCHER OF MISSIONS WORK DONE BY WOMEN? — Here’s a researcher looking to find the number of women currently involved in missions worldwide and training opportunities for women desiring to join the mission field. She writes, “My goal is to determine if there is a worldwide need for more women in missions and if there are sufficient training programs for women who are interested in dedicating themselves to God work in the mission field.” If you can help, post a comment at: http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=24

If you’d rather correspond directly with her personally, about something you can’t say openly on the web, write Elaine at Elaineschrank(at)aol(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

THANKS TO THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO SPUR US ON — We are so grateful for those who take initiative to encourage us with a financial gift to help with our expenses and spur us on toward the future. We invest the money in webhosting, some small marketing projects, secretarial costs, as well as projects for world evangelism. Nothing is wasted. This past week, we rec’d a $180 gift from a very active worker with an interest in Asia. We praise God for his efforts. We also rec’d $20 from an anonymous staff member of Studio TEN Ministries. Dial-abroad pitched in another $38.70. To take advantage of their great low rates for long distance, click to:

You can pull the money from your PayPal account or from any major credit card.

THE BACKPAGE: REFLECT, REPENT AND REBOOT — I saw an email cross my screen last week with a signature, “Reflect, Repent, and Reboot.” I chuckled to myself, then later thought… You know, that’s actually a pretty cool concept. The “ctrl-alt-delete” three-key combination is widely-known in the IBM-compatible PC world. MAC users usually insist that they don’t have to reboot as often :-) , but they still have the capability by clicking on the Apple button then hitting “Restart.” The metaphor is pretty interesting. In computing, one usually reboots because “something’s just not quite right.” The operating system is slowing down, or halted completely because of an error or a system crash. Sometimes the whole thing just freezes up — with no explanation.

Life is like that. We trip up, commit an error, and suddenly confront the fact that we’ve sinned. There seems to be no way out — and then we remember the magic of starting over. We “reflect, repent and reboot.” Suddenly, life is good. We’re back in the groove. There’s a lilt in our step. We feel light-shouldered again. Romans 8:1 reads, ” Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Sigh. Thank goodness we can start over. Hit control-alt-delete in your life, today. (Thanks to the anonymous correspondent who included that in his/her signature!)

TRAINING ON MICROFINANCE AND MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT — The Chalmers Center for Economic and Community Develop offers low-cost email-based distance learning courses on how to minister to the poor without creating dependency. This training “helps the church to help the poor to help themselves.” A course called “Principles and Practices of Christian Microfinance and Microenterprise Development” gives you an overview to microenterprise development and microfinance and orients you to the selection and design of a holistic intervention appropriate for your ministry context. Cost of this seven-week course is $199 (USD) plus the cost of separately ordered course material. The next offering is scheduled for Oct. 1 – Nov. 16, 2007. It also will be offered on Jan. 7 – Feb. 22, 2008.

The prerequisite for the course is called “Foundations and Principles of Holistic Ministry.” It helps you understand appropriate goals and strategies for conducting Christian development in poor communities. Cost of this four-week course is $75 (USD) plus the cost of separately ordered course material. The next offering is scheduled for Aug. 20 – Sept. 14, 2007. It also will be offered on Oct. 22 – Nov. 16, 2007.

Because the courses are email-based, slow dial-up speed will not limit participation. Also note that you may spend 8-10 hours per week on course work.

To learn more, including information about a discount for Two-Thirds World participants, or to register, visit

NORTH AMERICAN UNREACHED PEOPLE’S NETWORK ESTABLISHED — 32 lay people and ministry leaders recently met in Minneapolis to brainstorm and plan for a new network that hopes to help infuse new energy into unreached peoples networks reaching out from North America. Dubbed the North American Unreached People’s Network (NAUPN), its leadership team of 9 visionaries hope to stage its first major consultation in Dallas, Nov. 27-29. (Rats; I’m supposed to be in Europe that week. :-( Maybe I can change my travel plans — or send an associate.) Included in the group are representatives of Mission America, visionSynergy, Impact, Antioch Network, and others. If you’re interested, jot a note to info(at)powerofconnecting(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

SHORT-TERM MISSIONS WITHOUT LONG-TERM HARM — In addition to its distance learning courses on economic development, the Chalmers Center also offers a low-cost email-based distance learning course on the issues surrounding short-term missions (less than one month) in the context of the socio-economic poor. This course presents frameworks for considering these issues so that the benefits of missions projects are maximized and potential harm is minimized. It is designed for those involved in short-term missions to locations in the U.S./Canada and throughout the world and is appropriate for: 1) sending churches and denominations, 2) host churches and missionaries, 3) missions project leaders, and 4) missions team members.

Cost of this three-week course is $55 (USD) plus the cost of separately ordered course material. The next offering is scheduled for Oct. 29 – Nov. 16, 2007. It also will be offered on March 10 – March 28, 2008.

Because the course is email-based, slow dial-up speed will not limit participation. Also note that you may spend 6-8 hours per week on course work.

To learn more, including information about a discount for Two-Thirds World participants, or to register, visit

CHILD SAFETY GROUP CONVENES — On May 8-10, 2007, fifty-five people from twenty mission agencies/faith-based NGOs met on the lovely grounds of Campus Crusade for Christ in Orlando, Florida, for the Second Joint Consultation on Child Safety and Abuse Response. As had been hoped and prayed for, a collaborative network of mission agencies and faith-based NGOs are intentionally and strategically addressing the issues of child protection within the broader US-based mission-sending community. The response across the board has been enthusiastic and heart-felt.

The results include the following: The third meeting, geared toward mission leaders/decision makers who will formulate and resource policy for each agency, is tentatively scheduled for February 2008. In the meantime, the attending organizations are committed to sharing resources and partnering in prevention and response when possible. They are also working toward a common set of definitions, best-practice standards, and prevention and response protocols that would provide a high level of confidence for their staff, along with consistency and partnership in this critical area between organizations.

Further updates regarding the third meeting, including specifics on whom to contact, will be forthcoming on Brigada within the next few months. Keep reading.

OPPORTUNITIES TO TEACH ENGLISH IN QINGDAO, CHINA — The Baishan School is looking for native English speakers with an education degree or teaching experience to teach English to Chinese children in kindergarten through grade 9 beginning August 1. The school is operated by like-minded local friends looking to impact Chinese society. Salary, airfare, housing, and local medical insurance is provided during the eleven-month contract. Committed Christian teachers desiring to teach English in this city by the sea should contact Cindy at Cindyf(at)ldius(dot)org

RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT ONE-WEEK MODULES –- The SWORD training course offers one-week modules on Aquaculture, Micro-Finance & Business-as- Mission, and water & other community technologies. It all begins April 7, 2008 (Jordan), followed by a field assignment to selected countries on June 30, 2008. Both the 12-week lecture phase and the one-week modules are available. The Field Assignment is spearheaded by the Beijing Olympic Outreach. After the Beijing Olympics, a team will remain in China to finish their Field Assignment.( The Olympic outreach within the SWORD course is optional). The rest of the teams / candidates will proceed to their target countries in the Middle East, Africa, the Balkans and other Asian countries for their respective Field Assignments. And then, get the opportunity to work with our dispatches in some parts of the world! For more info, email streams7(at)juno(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

WANT TO SUBMIT AN ITEM TO BRIGADA? SEE THE GUIDELINES PLEASE — Just click “submit an item” in the top line menu. There you’ll find 25 tips that help you find your way into Brigada Today effortlessly and efficiently.

FOCUS ON POVERTY, REFUGEES, HIV/AIDS AND OTHER SOCIAL ILLS — Get it at the SWORD training course, along with info on the current situation in some of the poorest countries in the world. Learn the strategies. Find out where God is leading you to serve. It starts April 7, 2008 (Jordan), followed by a field assignment to selected countries on June 30, 2008. Both the 12-week lecture phase and the one-week modules are available. For more info, email streams7(at)juno(dot)com.

NONPROFIT AND CHURCH LEGAL TRENDS MEMORANDUM POSTED — The latest issue of the Nonprofit and Church Legal Trends Memorandum is now online. Be sure to note the new location.

In this issue, learn about legal restrictions as to the nature and/or extent of fundraising solicitations that may be used outside the U.S. such that will jeopardize US donors tax deductions, read the latest stats on number of nonprofit organizations, see info on new governance practices posted by the IRS, learn how to substantiate business expenses, and much much more.

PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR TEACHING ENGLISH — Invest three weeks in hands-on TESOL training and ensure that your teaching is effective and your ministry with students is enhanced. There are still a few slots left in Essentials of TESOL, July 9-27, 2007, at Biola University in southern California. You will: learn methods and techniques for teaching English language skills, be introduced to the sound and grammar systems of English, discover teaching materials, explore cultural issues, and learn appropriate ways of being a Christian teacher. You will also get supervised experience in teaching non-native speakers. Non-credit tuition is only $525. Dorm space may still be available. Learn more at

or call 562/903-4844 or contact kitty(dot)purgason(at)biola(dot)edu for an application. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

LEARN DISASTER AND CRISIS RELIEF OPERATIONS — Catch one-week modules on Disaster & Crisis Relief Operations, Light Search & Rescue, and Disaster Health Care at the SWORD (Strategic Seminars-Workshops on Relief & Development), April 7, 2008 (Jordan), followed by a field assignment to selected countries on June 30, 2008. For more info, write streams7(at)juno(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

FOCUS ON THE MBALANTU PEOPLE — This people of northern Namibia in Africa would be *hard* to reach, perhaps, but should that mean they are unreachable? Not so much. Needing a Savior? Yes. Driving through the northern areas of Namibia, a Christian worker asked our guide where were the majority of the Mbalantu people. He said “far west.” The worker asked him, is there any one ministering with them. His reply, “We have some preaching points to the west, but they are too far west.” God has put these people in Namibia and He did not put them too far west! Please pray that someone will see the need of the Mbalantu. Pray that someone will feel God’s desire to reach these people that are too far west! Pray for the Mbalantu people, a Forgotten People, but not forgotten by God! To adopt the Mbalantu people for prayer or for more information, please e-mail forgottenpeoples(at)telkomsa(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

HATS OFF TO THOSE WHO MAKE POSSIBLE OUR WORK — Thanks to the YWAMmers from the far North who sent $50 to enable more work from Brigada! We appreciate you and the fact that you wanted to remain anonymous… but we’re forever grateful for your sacrificial service long-term in the field. Another partner from Topeka sent $50. Shew. We appreciate you. Thanks to the other friend who sent $100 — same story – – long-time Brigada reader who just wanted to say thanks. What an honor to serve him. Another $100 came from Alameda, CA. Praise be to God. And finally, thanks to the missions-oriented church on the East Coast who sent $500 to undergird our work here and keep Brigada going out the door. Inspirational and humbling — that’s what that is. They added that they had been getting Brigada since nearly the very beginning. What an encouragement. Thank you so much.

LET YOUR GIVING HAVE A GLOBAL VOICE — Help make Brigada happen. Just click “Sponsor/Donate” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a credit card), or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax-deductible.) As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. And thank you in advance for helping.

THE BACKPAGE: TAP INTO THE TRUE ENERGY SOURCE — In my spare time (ok, I confess: not so much :-) ), I enjoy reading Astronomy Magazine, even though the cosmology articles are often off-base. Take the one by Scott Dodelson in the May 2007 issue (p. 43), entitled “Seeing The Red Limit.” He’s the Dir. of the Center for Particle Astrophysics at the Fermi National Accelerator Lab in Batavia, IL (sounds important enough). He wrote the book, _Modern Cosmology_ (Academic Press), 2003. And his quote looked promising, actually, at least at first: “Ordinary matter … can’t produce an accelerating universe. … Whatever causes this cosmic acceleration, it’s truly an exotic form of energy that isn’t diluted as the volume enclosing it expands. Physicists have dubbed this ‘dark energy.'” How do we tell these guys in a nice way that not only have we located the source of that “dark energy,” but that we also tap into it *daily*?

Colossians 1:15-17 says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” So there you have it: the true energy source.

Just make sure you’ve tapped in tonight.

Want to write a response? … express your own opinion on energy sources? Just click over to

COLLECTION OF “BACKPAGE” ‘COOL TOOLS FOR TRAVEL & MISSIONS’ — Now you can view them all together, as opposed to scattered out in “Back Page” editorials. Just click this link, then look at the “Comments.” Feel free to add other “Cool Tools” for travel & missions. Go ballistic. :-)

HOW DO YOU STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR CONSTITUENCY (CRM SOFTWARE?) — Our organization (Team Expansion) is going through a grieving process. To stay in touch with all our friends, donors, insiders, staff, etc., we’ve used a product called Goldmine since 1998. Unfortunately, Goldmine’s owners are letting our particular version go idle (because it uses now-out-of-date dBase 4 architecture). It feels like I’m attending a bit of a funeral. Limitations brought on by today’s larger attachments, coupled with an inherent 2-gig file-size limit, are forcing us to consider other options. What are other organizations using to keep in touch? Is there a missions agency that has found the perfect solution for staying in touch with the organization’s members, donors, recruits, and friends? Maybe the new product will be web-based? …but if that’s the case, how will we use it when we’re traveling “off-line”? :-( [Goldmine allowed us to travel “undocked”.] If you know of a solution, please log on at:

to co-host a one-day (9am to 3 pm) briefing for four to six of his Senior Pastor friends. The briefing will detail a strategic breakthrough for a church based evangelism project to an unreached people group.

For more information email fishville(at)aol(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

HAVE YOU HEARD OF FORM TD F 90-22.1? — Apparently, if you are from the USA and have signature authority on a foreign bank account, you’ll need to complete this form — if the account(s) total $10,000 or more. (If you’re a poor missionary, this is one time you could rejoice. Celebrate that here’s one form you don’t need to complete.) It seems like an attempt to track money flow by terrorists and others. Get it by doing a web search; it’s from the US Dept. of the Treasury. Note that you don’t file it with your tax return. (Thanks to Shari for tipping us on this one!)

NEW SUPPORT-RAISING BLOG — Now you have the opportunity to learn more than ever how to raise support as Bill Dillon, President of People Raising shares practical advice from over 35 years of fund raising experience in his brand new People Raising Blog. Whether raising individual support or raising funds for your organization you will find practical fund raising scenarios, tips, and issues. Additional fund raising information is available on his website through the tip of the month, email newsletter and a 6-hour training program available in DVD,CD, and MP3. Get it all at

or email Bill(at)PeopleRaising(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

GET PRE & MID FIELD RUSSIAN LANGUAGE TRAINING THIS FALL — Studying at the Institute of Strategic Languages and Cultures (ISLC) (formerly Russian Language Ministries) will give you a good head start in learning the needed language and culture. Their experienced staff is called by God to equip you with the language & cross-cultural skills you will need to be effective in ministry to Russian. Courses are tailored to your learning needs and offer an intensive and focused experience with, gradual effective immersion in the language, communicative learning methods & flexible duration for all programs. Their U.S. based courses are taught in an encouraging spiritual atmosphere with a focus on future ministry. Classes now forming for our 16 week fall course (Aug. 27- Dec. 14). US toll Free: 1-800-799-7976 or 1-803-333-9119. Write RLMoffice(at)juno(dot)com or log on at

or email his liaison at mlloyd3000(at)gmail(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

NEW CHURCH-PLANTING TEXTBOOK: MASTERPLAN — By Dr. Brian Woodford, (Eastwest College of Intercultural Studies in New Zealand), this text uses over 100 New Testament images to describe the nature and function of the church in terms of 24 universal principles. Although written primarily as a resource for cross-cultural church planters, the biblical teaching is also useful for bringing believers in any culture to spiritual maturity. See

THANKS TO THOSE WHO PITCH IN… — Like the folks at YouCanEmailUs.com, a project to provide email to those in nursing homes at no cost to them, provide young people with a life-changing job, and the business community with highly-targeted geriatric advertising.

WOULD YOU JOIN THEM? — Want to help make Brigada happen? Of course, we trust you’ll still tithe to your local church, but if you’re in between churches, or if you’d like to go beyond your tithe, just click on “Sponsor/Donate” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a credit card), or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax-deductible.) As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. And thank you in advance for helping.

THE BACK PAGE: WILL YOU REST WHEN YOU NEED IT? — I just finished a marathon two weeks. I picked up between 3 – 6 extra hours of coaching each day at the 2nd annual “Skyrocket Soccer Academy” here in Louisville, KY. We bring in guest coaches from spots like England, opening up opportunities for beginners and advanced players alike to hone their skills. With dozens of players participating, it added a significant load to my schedule. Even though I consider it “vacation weeks” from my normal role as president of our missions agency, the work doesn’t really stop. So it’s like working two jobs in one. By the end of the two weeks, I knew I was probably very tired… even though my body isn’t all that great at informing me of it. So I’ve taken the last two days to rest up and recover.

Are you able to rest? … or do you push yourself until you feel stressed out, only then realizing how strung-out you really are. Jesus said he would give life “more abundant”, but I don’t think that was supposed to mean a “busier life.” In fact, He Himself rested on the 7th day of creation (Gen 2:2). In addition, He promised *rest* to the weary (Mt. 11:28).

So maybe you need to schedule a day off this week? … just to catch up? Better schedule it now; the pace won’t slow down later in the week. You might have to be ruthless. :-)

GOT PASSPORT? –- Have you heard that the US passport laws are changing effective January 23rd? According to the Arizona Republic, travel agents are predicting that the new rules will have its greatest impact this spring and summer as travelers make plans for spring break and summer trips. Are you ready for your spring break and summer mission trips? Do all of your participants have passports? Do you know if you need a passport or visa? One of Brigada’s sponsors, Insurance Services of America, has information on their web site to help you navigate the new passport rules! Check it out at

While you are on that page, take a few minutes to check out the insurance plans that ISA offers for short-term mission trips. Coverage is available for individuals and groups. Remember that Insurance Services of America has agreed to help support Brigada from sales that are made on this link, so when you purchase on this site you will be helping to support Brigada and you will be protecting yourself and your ministry from financial loss!

‘EASY TO READ’ BIBLE PORTIONS IN MANY LANGUAGES — Martin Lloyd, who for over 7 years co-ordinated the EasyEnglish project for Wycliffe Associates UK

http://www.easyenglish.info

is now thrilled to be able to encourage similar projects in major languages on all continents. Thirteen such ‘easy’ languages, namely Chinese, Amharic, Swahili, Lingala, Telugu, Juba Arabic, Bengali, Yoruba, Zulu, Spanish, Portuguese, Welsh and French are displayed on

http://www.easyBibles.com

and several more, including Nepali, Tagalog, Konkani, Indonesian, Shona, Tamil and Fulani will soon be added. More information may be obtained from mlloyd3000(at)gmail(dot)com . [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

INSTEAD OF GOOGLE, TRY GOODSEARCH FOR A DAY — Have you Goodsearched yet? If not, would you? … at least for a day. Just try it. Here’s the way it works. Browse to…

Type “Team Expansion” into the 2nd blank (“Who do you GoodSearch for?”), then click “Verify”. You’ll notice that it’ll fill in “Team Expansion, Louisville, KY” into the blank for you. (That’s the organization that tries to cover for Brigada’s costs if we don’t come up with the budget here.) Now click on “Amount raised.” It’ll probably be something like $20 or so. Write down that number. Now search for something (something you’d really like to find, that is). Want to learn about the best camcorder? Maybe find a good site on Bosnia? It really doesn’t matter. Whatever you would normally hunt for in Google, you can search for it using Goodsearch.

GET PAID FOR SEARCHING — So how does Goodsearch work? It basically just relies on Yahoo’s search engine for it’s data-gathering ability, selling “hits” to advertisers then giving about 50% of their profits to the charities that recruit eyeballs for them. But there’s one critical difference (get this): Every single time you search for something, it’s just like you gave a penny to Team Expansion. Don’t believe it? Go look for 5 random things… (real things). Type in “Emerald Hills” or whatever *real* stuff for which you’re searching. Click through a few searches. Now go back and look at the “Amount raised”. It’ll probably be about 5 cents more than when you started. Pretty cool, eh? Whoever knew they could give an offering to a mission organization just by searching the Internet?

NOT-SO-GOOD SIDES OF GOODSEARCH — Are there downsides? Well sure. For one thing, the amount that any organization receives will be limited by the number of searchers who make it a *regular* habit to hunt for things via Goodsearch. But there’s more. Once your church or mission finds out about Goodsearch, you’ll likely register your own group, right? So when that happens, you’ll stop helping Brigada. So truth is… we’ll really only have you for about 24 hours (the amount of time it takes Goodsearch to set up your new account).

Finally, there’s another limiting factor: pennies. (Lest you get the idea of just rat-a-tat-tat machine-gun-searching, please don’t; Goodsearch “listens” to the ports that are searching. If anybody tries anything underhanded like that, they just shut off that charity. :-( So please, in spite of your most noble intentions, make these *real* searches… not just fake searches to up the pennies.) So it takes literally *thousands* of searches to add up to anything significant.

On the other hand, $20 is $20. :-) So — while you’re all opening your accounts, please… search on! Big-time. :-) Get curious. :-) (Thanks.) And in the end, we hope this gives your organization some dimes and quarters for your annual Christmas party or whatever. :-)

Is the searching capability as good as Google’s? Jury’s still out. If I don’t find it on Goodsearch on the first couple of tries, I go to Google and try there. But it’s good enough that I’ve made Goodsearch my default search engine now. Maybe you can too. (Instructions are at the bottom of the Goodsearch landing page.)

ESL: LEARN ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE — Anyone who has a desire to learn English or to improve their English communication skills is encouraged to apply for this course sposored by Youth With A Mission, Lebanon, PA. USA. The date of the school is March 12, 2007 – June 1,2007. Details, and applicaton forms are listed on the website

email ywampa(at)comcast(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

ENCOUNTERING THE WORLD OF ISLAM CLASS IS COMING TO L.A. — Encountering the World of Islam is being offered in the Greater Los Angeles area for the first time. This class from Initiative360 is a dynamic and effective 12-week experience that will have life-long impact. Choose from any of three locations. Get info or register at

GO TO THE NATIONS…AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER — Here’s an exciting and intensive 4-week TESOL course equipping you with effective English teaching techniques, sponsored by Youth With A Mission, Lebanon, PA USA. School dates: March 5, 2007 – March 30, 2007 and May 7, 2007 – June 1, 2007. It’s a certificate program. Get details, application forms and alternate dates by browsing to…

NEW BOOK HELPING CHINESE RETURN TO THE “FAITH OF OUR FATHERS” — The Chinese church worldwide is growing rapidly and yet Christianity is still seen as something ‘foreign’ to most Chinese. This book traces ancient Chinese language, culture, and events to show that many throughout Chinese history indeed worshipped the Creator God of the Bible and coming to Christ is a return to the faith of their ancestors. The book is available in Mandarin (paperback only) and English ($15- paperback, $20-hardback + SH) from Leadership Development International, 678/783-4900 or Leaders-Of-Hope(at)ldius(dot) org. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

PARTNERS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE — Next edition, Brigada will celebrate a dozen years of weekly issues. Confession: we aren’t in it for the money. Having said that, it sure helps cover expenses, including secretarial help. And what a glorious encouragement it is to see a $200 gift from an anonymous donor from Las Cruces, NM. What’s more, here’s an anonymous donor that gave $10 in cash, and a fortune in words: “Thank you Doug for your consistent work for so many years! Not only have you kept our focus on unreached peoples, but you have shared invaluable internet and email security tips and software. Both of these features have been essential for effective international outreach. Thanks a million!” We give praise to God for these encouarging words.

WANT TO HELP BRIGADA FINISH ITS ’07 $ NEEDS EARLY? — Just click on “Sponsor/Donate” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a credit card), or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax- deductible.) As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. And thank you in advance for helping.

THE BACKPAGE: THE BIGGEST COMEBACK EVER… — … in American football conference championship play, that is. And a great comeback it was. My son and I started watching the game tonight as father-and-son bonding time, but by halftime, he had pretty much given up. In fact, he left for Walmart. The New England Patriots were ahead of the Indianapolis Colts by a score of… what was it… 24-3? I was born & raised in Indiana though… and, somehow, I just couldn’t give up on Payton. So I came in to start working on this Brigada Today. Fortunately, my son came back from Walmart. And the Colts came back as well.

What kind of tensile strength does it take be down by 18 points at halftime, then outscore the opponent 32-13 in the second half!? Payton led the charge; he threw for 349 yards and one touchdown, but he also led by believing. He was quick to point out after the game… “everybody did their job,” as the team piled on 455 yards of offense and six of their final eight drives. But regardless of the numbers on the jerseys, everyone knew what it had required: Mental toughness. It was a shining example.

None of us knows when we’ll be placed in just such a position. Maybe our financial support will take a nose dive, or perhaps we’ll experience a huge hurt or emotional loss. Obviously, coming back in an athletic contest can’t hold a candle to life’s real hurdles… but the principles are the same.

*** First, we have to believe that it’s possible. *** Second, we have to do the fundamentals – patiently & thoroughly. *** Third, we can rely on superhuman strength — the Lord’s strength.

I was glad, in the case of both the owner/CEO of the Colts as well as the coach himself, to hear grown men giving total glory to God. They had found inner strength from above the flurry and the distractions of those who wanted to eat them for lunch.

Someday, you might need that same inner strength. At that time, you won’t have the luxury to drill, practice or condition. We need to prepare *now* for the day that we’ll be called upon to come back. If you’ve been drifting away… if the job has become routine… if your relationship with God has taken a back seat and now… you’re just going through the motions — find someone to help you. Read a book. The Bible, a devotional guide, a challenging biography… or talk to a team member that can help you catch your breath.

The game you might have to win someday might call from within you every ounce of mental toughness you can muster. Begin training today.

IT TRULY IS A WONDERFUL BRIGADA-LIFE — Thanks to gifts from an anonymous Virginia participant ($250), another from Oregon ($100), Salem Alliance Church from Salem, OR ($100), a medical missionary in Tanzania ($200), $50 from another employee at Johnson Bible College ($50 — that’s two employees in as many weeks!), a worker in Germany ($50), another in Richmond, VA ($50), yet another from Rockville, MD ($50), a servant with www.christiansincrisis.net and finally, Roland Muller of Roland Muller Books, rmuller.com ($100 gift). That takes us from our previous base, as reported last edition, of $11,054.74 to $12,054.74.

WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF MAKING OUR 2006 NEED — So as you can see, we’re *so* within striking distance. That means we only have $4,595.26 to reach our 2006 need of $16,650 —– by Sunday. Gulp. But it wouldn’t be so hard… It looks like this. We just need:

Look how many folks have pitched in! Yet there are 11,000 Brigada participants in all. The question remains: Can we cover this ground by Sunday. Someone asked, “What will you do if you go *over* the goal amount?” Well please hear this: We will refuse to apply more than the $16,650 to 2006. In fact, if more money were to come in (great leap of faith), we would apply it directly to 2007. If enough money came in to cover 2007, we wouldn’t mention finances through the entire *year*! :-)

ONLY FIVE DAYS LEFT TO REACH OUR 2006 NEEDS: $16,650 — Gulp. Please note… one of our partners mentioned this past week that he wished it would be possible to donate without registering for a PayPal account. Your wish is our command. We have now configured the donations site so you no longer need PayPal. You can now pay directly (simply, and quickly) with any major credit card. Just click on “Sponsor/Donate” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a credit card), or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax- deductible.) As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous.

WANT TO KNOW THE TOP 3 CRITICAL ISSUES? — … for the Cross- Cultural Church-Planter? Find the book at:

(And thanks to Christians in Crisis for helping Brigada out the door with a gracious gift this past week!)

SPECIAL BRIGADA REPORT: WHAT MAKES A MISSIONARY EFFECTIVE? — Rebekah is 22 years old. Next year, she’ll move to India to begin work as a missionary there. She’ll finish Bible college in May . . . and she’s preparing in every way she can. But she’s eager to know… what’s your top-ten list of tips, thoughts, ideas, and principles that can help her become super-effective on the mission field. She’s particularly interested in hearing from veterans on the field… those who can tell her, “Here’s what made the difference.” She’ll assemble all the input into a report and file it here in Brigada in two weeks. So everybody who contributes will be able to see what everyone else recommended. When you write her, be sure to tell her if you’d rather your input be anonymous (like if you’re in a sensitive land). Likewise, be sure to tell her if you’d like to be credited… and if you’d like any particular email address or website to be listed with your input. Here’s a chance for training and resource institutions to be listed along with others around the world, all with a simple goal of saying, “Here’s how to get ready for the field.” It’s simple to participate: Just write Bekah at this address:

bekahsabs3(at)yahoo(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

(If you’d like to see a copy of the kind of thing she might compile, take a look at Heather’s recent compilation for MK’s at this URL:

50% OFF ON PEOPLE RAISING 6-HOUR TRAINING — Need to raise personal support or funds for your organization? People Raising has its 6-hour award-winning video kit 50% off. Discover firsthand how the 12-step People Raising system can help you raise the needed funds in record time while reducing the fears commonly associated with asking for funds. The video kit includes: 4 90-minute videos by author and fundraising expert, Bill Dillon; 72-page Study Guide, 72-page Facilitator Guide, The People Raising book (now in a 13th printing) and handy Presentation Reminder card. People Raising is providing this entire kit at 50% off while supplies last. To get more information and take advantage of this unique fund raising 6-hour training program go online

It makes for a fun and entertaining read. (If those folks get the missions bug, Brigada would be out of business. :-) ) Sometimes I think the blog format would be great for Brigada. But then I think about all the folks who still receive Brigada via a very small pipe. (Contrary to popular opinion, not everybody has broadband yet, you know. We currently estimate that fully 1/3 of our 11,000 participants still view Brigada from developing nations with very slow Internet channels.) Still, if you’re speedy on the Internet highway, check out Lifehacker, a self-proclaimed “software and productivity guide — a blog that covers tips and tricks for streamlining your life with computers (and sometimes without).” Updated several times daily, Lifehacker “points out software downloads, web sites, do-it-yourself projects, how-to’s, tutorials, shortcuts and tips for going beyond the default settings and getting things done in the most clever, unexpected and efficient ways.” Our MAC users should be pleased. They seem to have a decided slant in that direction, if you ask me. :-) (Finally *something* mac-ish. Wait — just teasing! :-) )

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR HARD DRIVE CRASHES IN THE BUSH — What do you do when (not “if”) your hard drive gets trashed while you’re traveling or living in the middle of nowhere? Well according to Brigada participant Jonathan, your first concern will actually most likely be email and internet access before file recovery. Here is a quick fix he suggested. PuppyLinux is a free “live” CD operating system that can work without a hard drive present. Just go to

to download the ISO, burn it to a CD and boot from that CD for a simple, yet complete OS and office solution. You can save settings to a USB drive, or install the whole thing on a 64MB USB drive, if your computer can boot from a USB drive. It’s even possible to access files from a “dead” hard drive through Puppy Linux – so burn a Puppy Linux CD and keep it nearby. Who needs a hard drive anyhow?

Important note: This strategy is like fire extinguishers and bug-out bags. It works best if you prepare things *before* the disaster.

AMAZINGMAIL TURNS OUT, WELL,… AMAZING MAIL! — Now that Christmas is over, I know what you’ll say: “Thanks a *lot* Doug. Why couldn’t you have reminded us about this in November!” :-) Well, better late than never. Just make a calendar entry to remember it next time. Here’s the deal: My buddy in China used this service at…

Where he uploaded his picture, uploaded the email list, then amazingmail.com did the rest. They print your postcards (quality job, too; very attractive) then mail them out for you complete with postage. All that’s left for you to do is … sit back and enjoy whatever other 65 things you have to do today. Seriously folks… this is a fantastic deal for someone in a sensitive country with a good VPN. Try it out… AmazingMail.com.

RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR IN LIBERIA — These R&D Modules of 2 weeks are open to sit-ins and participants from communities from February 5 to 16, 2007 in Monrovia, Liberia (West Africa). The cost is US$ 450 for the two sessions. Applicants from all countries and nationalities are welcome. The organizers suggest you register ahead while slots are still open. Contact the Streams Center: streams7(at)juno(dot)com or phone: +639157843330 +639062343347

BEIJING OLYMPICS, DO RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT, THEN SERVE — The first School Of Relief & Development (SWORD) will run in Jordan and Dubai in February 2008. A 2-year Field Assignment will follow, which will be spearheaded by the Olympic Outreach in Beijing July 2008. Teams will then disperse back to the Middle East and into their respective target countries. A team will remain in China. Pre-requisite: A successful DTS or CDTS. For more info, contact: The Streams Center – streams7(at)juno(dot)com -or- visit

SEARCHING FOR A PAST ITEM IN BRIGADA? — Just click on “search” in the top-line menu above. Put in some key words like… TESL, or “MK” or “trojan” or whatever you’re seeking. Watch the magic happen. :-)

GREAT “BOOK NOTES” –- Want to keep up on current books? Subscribe to book notes. David writes notes on the books he reads on missions, church, leadership, culture, and other topics. He sends them without cost to an email list of subscribers and posts them on the web. To see samples or subscribe go to

and click on Book Notes or email davidlmays(at)sbcglobal(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

BARREL AQUAPONICS: CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION — Do you want to learn to produce a constant supply fish and vegetables in an efficient, inexpensive small-scale system which will prove to be an effective “helps ministry” outreach? If so, you will want to attend a pre- conference workshop entitled, “Barrel Aquaponics: Construction and Operation” held at Camp Living Water, Bryson City, NC, March 26 & 27, 2007. Instruction will focus on “Aquaponics,” which is the combining of aquaculture and hydroponics for mutual benefit. In addition to instruction, each attendee will be given an opportunity to construct a highly productive, small-scale system from barrels, capable of producing fish and a large variety of vegetables, greens & herbs. Full- time missionaries can register at the student rate of $30. For more information or to register, visit:

aquacultureint(at)yahoo(dot)com “(As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .)”. Also see the next item.

AQUAPONICS CONFERENCE — If you want to develop skills in the emerging technology of fish and vegetable production in a naturally balanced system, plan to attend the Aquaponics Conference held at Camp Living Water, Bryson City, NC, March 28 – 30, 2007. Course participants will learn the techniques of inexpensively constructing and managing these highly productive systems which are adaptable to all types of environments and proving to be an effective outreach ministry. Come and enjoy a rich learning experience, fellowship with believers of like interest and the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. Full-time missionaries can register at the student rate of $60 or $75 for the Workshop and the Conference. For more information or to register, visit:

THE BACKPAGE: WHAT’S YOUR WISH-FOR-2007? — Got a New Year’s wish for 2007? For the final Brigada of the year, we’d love to share yours with the world. You can be personal (“I want to lose 25 pounds”), spiritual (“I *will* pray 10′ per day”), or practical (“I will be on time to work throughout 2007”). You can attach your name, or make it anonymous. You can even be romantic, as long as you are sensitive (“By the end of the year, Gladys will agree to marry me” :-) [We reserve the right to edit these; we do have under-age participants in our mix. :-) ] ). (But at the same time, mum’s the word: your secret is safe with me. We won’t give out *any* of your identities! Have you ever read our “PRIVACY INFORMATION” in “CLOSING STUFF” below? :-) ) So send ’em my way. Please type “WISH-FOR-2007” exactly as suggested (hyphenated, all upper case). If there are just 10 or so wishes, we’ll publish them right here in-text. If there are more than 10, we’ll link to a PDF and your 2007 wish will forever be stamped in 2007 history! Give us a view to your life… It’ll be fun to see where everyone is headed. Please limit your text to no more than 8-10 lines max… like a typical Brigada Today item. (ok… tease me all you want. I’m thick-skinned. *Some* go over 10 lines. I know. :-) ) So have at it. Please send your item to:

In order for them to be granted :-) , all wishes have to be in no later than noon this Friday, December 29th, at which time Brigada will officially be “caught up” as we conclude 2006. Don’t be late. Send your “wish-for-2007” today! :-)

WHY RAISE PERSONAL SUPPORT FOR MINISTRY? — According to Kingdom Come Training, “Raising support isn’t primarily about your need for monthly support. God has obligated himself to meet your need. It is primarily about the church’s need to connect with its primary purpose for existence: to be the expression of Christ to the nations. No one inspires mission vision better than the missionary raising support. Jerry, at Kingdom Come Training, can equip you with the attitudes, skills and confidence you need to raise your full support in eight to ten months.” He can come to your location, live and interactive, via video conferencing. KCT will send you the equipment and the software you need. Give Jerry a call at (503) 314-7211.

jerry(at)kingdomcometraining(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

HOW DO WE SHARE CONFERENCE CALENDAR DATES? — Phill would like to poll Brigada participants to find out if there’s a good website or other resource that publicizes conference calendars and dates for other national and int’l events in the broader evangelical world. Seems like someone would have come up with an approach. If you have a suggestion, send it to: bsunderland(at)visionsynergy(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

Phill, please let us know your outcome so we can all jump on board. :-)

HOW TO GET PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR MISSIONS — Here’s a tip to remember from Brigada participant, Mary: “One of the best ways to get people to pray is when they know the missionaries personally. My church has an annual missions conference week. Our missionaries come home and give reports, have small dinners in host homes and spend personal time with our church members. Each of the missionaries are part of our church and are considered our family. We keep in touch with them throughout the year and we support them both in prayer and finances.”

They are a small ministry that has created a searchable CD Chinese Bible (reportedly easy to email) that they give away for free. The CD format allows it to be copied and hidden very easily. They are developing a new upgraded version 4 and it will be out soon. They are also looking for Arabic language help in doing the same project in Arabic. Their work is highly rated and very practical. (Thanks to the anonymous brother for sending this tip.)

FREE MISSIONARY WEBSITES — Fast and easy, no HTML required. missionary411.com is a site designed to allow missionaries to create a free missionary website in just minutes. Users can upload pictures, updates, plans, location, prayer requests, financial needs and more. Once your free personal missionary website is set up, simply send sponsors your customized web address. This is a great way to communicate with your supporters, church, family and friends. The service is free and easy-to-use (no HTML required). For more information, go to:

or contact Noel at noel(at)411ministries(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

HAVE YOU SEEN MISSION MAKER MAGAZINE? — I loved the article, “Two of my Kids I Like a Lot. One, Not so Much,” by Shane Bennett (of Caleb Project — which is now i360…. takeitglobal.org). It was funny, yet penetrating… and I wish it was available elsewhere on the web… but for now, I think you’ll just have to get a printed copy of the magazine, which you can request at:

GRAD STUDENT SEEKS ANSWERS TO 501(C)3 START-UPS — As a grad student soon to complete his masters degree in ministry leadership, faithful Brigada reader Mike is required to submit a 75-page paper on the subject of how to start a fruitful and sustainable 501c3 missions ministry. He is seeking Christian leaders who have the aforementioned experience to respond to the questions below via email; the responses will serve as part of the qualitative research of the paper. So, how about it? Care to help out a colleague in missions ministry? Send responses asap to the following questions to: mike(at)internationalfaith(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

What are a couple of the most common mistakes made in starting new missions ministries? What can be done to help foster ministry sustainability over the long haul? Describe the most rewarding part of starting a ministry that you have experienced? Looking back, what would you do differently if you could start all over? How is your knowledge of and relationship with God different than before you started your first ministry? (Mike, if you get some feedback, please send us an executive summary of your outcomes.)

A NEW CHRISTIAN ENGINEERING SCHOOL — Here’s a new school that’s already accepting applications for the inaugural class starting in the fall of 2007. Enrollment is limited. It’s part of California Baptist University (“A University committed to the great commission!”)

Check the site for details. Large academic scholarships are available. Home schoolers and missionary kids are most welcome. Foreign students are not required to have a minimum TOEFL score because ESL training is available. Send questions to:

engineering(at)calbaptist(dot)edu [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

WE GET SO MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT FROM DONORS/SPONSORS — Thanks to the anonymous givers who gave $20, $180, and $100 this past week. Here’s the truth: Many weekends, when it seems so hard to find time to keep Brigada going, these sponsors and donors make *soooo* much difference. Thank you! If you’d like to be a part of that encouragement, just click on “sponsor” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a credit card), or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. In any case, thanks for considering Brigada in your estate giving, your monthly church missions fund, and/or your own personal giving for this calendar year.

THE BACKPAGE: TIME TO “GET TIRED”; AVOID WOTS — Today I’m getting tired. Why? To avoid “WOTS.” Truth is, my previous Bridgestones managed about 70,000 miles before the slipping and sliding started becoming just a bit too noticeable.

The funny thing about tires… the wear kind of sneaks up on you, doesn’t it. There’s no warning light… no buzzer… and probably nobody in your house reminds you. *Maybe* the guy changing your oil says something… but that’s only if you happen to have someone who thinks outside his own box. So the truth is… you can actually let the situation become pretty dangerous without even knowing it.

The same thing happens in mission work. We grow lax about monitoring security and the next thing you know, we’re casual. We walk the same routine at the same time everyday, creating a very soft target for a hardened criminal. But beyond security concerns (which are many), maybe we lose our edge by not staying current on the best practices in church planting, discipleship, or even language learning & cross-cultural communications.

Who reminds us about tire wear? The same people who remind us about mission wear. In other words, unless a missions agency rep or a local church missions minister should happen to advise us, we pretty much have to kick our own tires. And if we wait ’til we start to slip, it just might be too late.

So what can you do to avoid worn-out-tire-syndrome (WOTS) :-) ? Here are some tips: *** Find ways to stay current, regardless of where you live. Subscribe to some basic world news source, as well as a couple of info-sources related to your job. (Like Brigada! :-) ) Be sure to skim or read them regularly. It takes proactive and intentional *work* to do so. *** Set a weekly checkpoint in your life where you take time to analyze your to do list and the upcoming week. Do some pondering. Be creative and introspective. Steven Covey helped raise a broader awareness on this, and Frankin-Covey has continued in his legacy. Some like Monday morning… others point to Sunday evening… you decide what works for you. With my truck, for instance, I try to check out the tires every time I buy gas. It’s just a practical stopping point along an otherwise very hectic roadway. Find a checkpoint in your life too. *** Ask for coaching. Take advantage of visitors, phone calls, and communiqués of all kinds. Pick their brains. Express a posture of teachability. Check your theories by polling others, whenever you can. *** Seek out teammates who believe and think differently. This is counter to our own ego. We normally try to hang with those who affirm us by believing and practicing the ideas we hold dear. It takes *work* to affirm others when they disagree and to let them know that you *value* their contrary theories and beliefs. But I’m convinced when you do so, you become a stronger human being. *** Finally, ask God for wisdom. Maybe James 1:5 is talking mostly about wisdom in trials . . . but the principle can apply in other areas as well. Ask God to give you insight. Let’s shoot straight — God’s wisdom would obviously be the most valuable input of all.

DID YOU KNOW: GOOGLE SEARCHES CAN BE CLEARED — If you are one of those unfortunate missionaries working in a sensitive area who have had your names and ministry exposed by well-meaning churches on the Internet, take heart — there is a way to clear the Google search engine! Step One is to get the church’s webmaster to remove the offensive page (and ALL links that connect to it) from their web site. Once this is complete, check to make sure the URL returns a “404 Page Not Found” error message in the header of the page. Step Two is to fill out a simple form on Google’s web page to have the dead link removed from their search engine, and it usually happens within five days. Go to this link and follow their simple instructions:

(be sure to reassemble this line into one long line in your browser’s URL or web “Address” box. Thanks so much, anonymous tipster! :-)

VIDEO EVANGELISM TOOL — There is a new daily video program “What’s Real Today” that is a great evangelism tool. It is a simple 3 min daily lesson about living as a Christian in today’s world. It is a great way to start you day with a spiritual lesson or just to learn about what it is to be a Christian. The programs are simple so it’s a great tool for ESL teachers to share with their students or an easy way to get non Christian friends to think about spiritual things. It is video so it might be hard for people with dialup connection to watch. Check it out at

Several materials are now available in Chinese to help support Chinese Christian workers. They are free and on-line. Collectively, they are called “Running to Win — Resources for Chinese Workers.” The materials include 16 key articles, five case studies (with audio files), and two books (Thriving in Another Culture, and Through Desert Sands — an account of Chinese workers in Africa). Each article has a short introduction to orient the readers about its relevance to Chinese contexts. Audio files for all the chapters have been finished and will be uploaded soon. Currently all the materials, except the Chinese audios, are in both Chinese and English. (Thanks to the anonymous Brigada participant who contributed this great news.)

GOOGLE OFFERS FREE PDF CREATION; OTHER PDF OPTIONS — Google recently joined two projects they were working on that has some pretty neat features.

Google Docs: This is an online Word processor that works like Microsoft Word. I wouldn’t recommend this as a replacement to Word, but it has some cool features. For example, it opens up a host of file types (including the latest Microsoft Word format) and will allow you to save (for free) files as PDF’s (without advertisements). So, if you need a PDF converter for Word files here you go.

Google Spreadsheets: Basically works like Excel and can use excel and many of spreadsheet formats.

Both of these applications allow you to open collaborate with multiple users. So, you could write a document and give several people the write to live edit with you. The collaboration feature allows you to do this through a live chat feature with those users.

The main reason Nick brought these to our attention was the PDF converter option that comes with these documents. However, as of right now, these won’t allow you to convert Publisher files. :) Maybe in the future…

TEACH ENGLISH WITH CONFIDENCE AND INTEGRITY — Invest three weeks in practical TESOL training and ensure that your teaching is effective and your ministry with students is enhanced. During Essentials of TESOL, July 9-27, 2007, at Biola University in southern California, you will: learn methods and techniques for teaching English language skills, be introduced to the sound and grammar systems of English, discover teaching materials, explore cultural issues, and learn appropriate ways of being a Christian teacher. You will also get supervised experience in teaching non-native speakers. Non-credit tuition is only $525. Dorm space is available for early applicants. Visit

for more info and call 562/903-4844 or contact kitty(dot)purgason(at)biola(dot)edu for an application. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

BRIGADA DONOR ASKS TO DEDICATE PRAYER TO PAKISTAN — Thanks to this anonymous donor ($25) who asked that this prayer be offered up to help people in Pakistan: “That God would work through a couple handfuls of national leaders who have started, this year, to get together to determine how they can catalyze missions awareness and passion at the local church level throughout this country, and eventually establish a missionary training program for local believers.” What an amazing way to ask for a prayer request. I just wish we had 100 more prayer requests like yours! :-) Praise be to God.

TEACH TO REACH — Nations are crying out for English teachers. You can reach them with the gospel as you teach English. YWAM Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA can train you to teach effectively in our TESOL course. Courses will be offered January 22 through February 16, 2007 and March 5 through March 30, 2007. Additional information and application forms can be found at

or e-mail questions to ywampa(at)comcast(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

RESEARCHING MISSION WORK IN KIRIBATI (GILBERT) ISLANDS — John O’Malley is looking for anyone aware of evangelical mission work in the Kiribati islands, about 1000 miles north of Fiji. Any knowledge of past or present ministry work is helpful. He is attempting to help a veteran Pacific Rim missionary who has sensed a burden for this “unreached” region. Please contact John thejohnomalley(at)gmail(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

LEARN CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISH — Do you know of someone who wants to improve in English? Youth With A Mission Lebanon, PA USA is offering a 12 week course from January 8 to March 30, 2007. Classroom teaching plus immersion in an English-speaking international community contribute to a rich learning environment. Details and application forms are on website at

http:www.ywampa.org. E-mail questions to

ywampa(at)comcast(dot)net

HOW TO STRIP CARRIAGE RETURNS IN WORD — We recently rec’d a request from Mark, pointing to a 1999 Brigada item that dealt with stripping carriage returns from Word. (http://www.brigada.org/today/1999/bt19990416.shtml#Ref14) He pointed out that the macro for 1999 no longer worked in Word 2003. Here’s an updated stripcarriagereturns routine that should do the trick, Mark. Another option: Buy Clipmate, which has a bunch of handy utilities that meet all kinds of needs, including that one. Clipmate is available from:

SO GRATEFUL FOR RECENT PARTNERSHIP GIFTS — Thanks to those who have recently given, anonymously, to help get Brigada out the door and onto your screen efficiently. These gifts help us with some small marketing costs, scretarial help, web costs, etc. As you may recall, we have set a goal for 2006 to cover $16,650. So far, $5477.34 had come in prior to these gifts. Now we’ve rec’d these donations from partners and friends on a mission: $100.00, $31.72, $25.00, $20.00, $100.00, $100.00, $25.00, $50.00, $50.00, $101.79, $25.00, $25.00, $100.00, which results in $6230.85 be available for the collection of needs mentioned above.

THE BACKPAGE: THE JOURNEY IS PART OF THE FUN — This past Saturday, I took my two sons hunting on Wildlife Management Land in southern Kentucky. It was a fun day… thousands of acres of forest… having to solve problems like how to get across a swollen creek, how to communicate silently while sneaking up on quail, how to manage without snacks until noon. :-) In the end, we didn’t actually bring home any game. (Perhaps if we’d had dogs we could have stumbled on more game.) But at the end of the day, it really didn’t matter. We stopped in this awesome stream bed, plinked 22’s into the hillside, breathed in the fresh woods air, and enjoyed the moment.

We were learning a valuable lesson: sometimes the end goal is a signpost in time that caused you to take a journey you needed to take. And sometimes the *journey* is just as enjoyable as accomplishing the goal.

Life is kind of like that, in general. If we could somehow learn to enjoy the *journey*, for the journey’s sake, then we could truly say, in good conscience, “Getting there is half the fun.”

This week… don’t give up on your end goals, but while you’re traveling there, try to savor the woods air: enjoy the journey.

FREE MISSION CHALLENGE VIDEO — PhotoMission offers a free 5-minute downloadable video ‘Every Knee Shall Bow’. With worldwide pictures, appropriate Bible verses and music, but no voice-over, it offers an ideal keynote introduction to the urgency of the mission mandate, which can be used in any mission-advocacy or church meeting. The video is available in a range of resolutions, and PhotoMission is happy for it to be redistributed on, for example, mission promotion CDs and DVDs.

http://photomission.jkpphoto.com/eksb.htm

Those who would prefer a different musical background could run a different audio track but still give credit to the original producer for the video content. (Thanks, Tony, for the tip on this resource!)

NEW!! MEMBER CARE RESOURCES IN CHINESE — Check out

http://www.chinamembercare.com

Several materials are now available in Chinese to help support Chinese Christian workers. They are free and on-line. Collectively, they are called “Running to Win — Resources for Chinese Workers.” The materials include 16 key articles, five case studies (with audio files), and two books (Thriving in Another Culture, and Through Desert Sands — an account of Chinese workers in Africa). Each article has a short introduction to orient the readers about its relevance to Chinese contexts. Audio files for all the chapters have been finished and will be uploaded soon. Currently all the materials, except the Chinese audios, are in both Chinese and English. (Thanks to the anonymous worker who labored long to develop these.)

FREE DOWNLOADABLE MULTI-LINGUAL TRACTS — In 1954 a pastor preached a sermon entitled, “Steps Leading to Salvation” and distributed his notes. Little did he know that this would give birth to the _Step Up To Life_(tm) evangelistic booklet. Since that time the tract has been translated into 17 different languages and is used worldwide by many different denominations, organizations and everyday “Joe Christians.” More information, teaching materials, free downloads (several thematic English versions and multiple languages), and interactive versions are all available at

http://www.stepuptolife.com

Alternatively, e-mail sutlmail(at)aol(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

A CONFERENCE FOR THE PRAYING, MISSIONARY CHURCH — Please join us at the “Seek Him to Save Them” conference at Grace Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, October 26-28, 2006. Pastors John Piper, Jim Cymbala, and Daniel Henderson are the featured speakers. Through seeking the Lord in united prayer and leading your congregation into the harvest fields, your church can experience a renewed vision for Him and for taking His glory to the ends of the earth! This conference is being held in conjunction with Grace Church’s annual Missions Festival. For more information or to register, visit

http://www.strategicrenewal.com

or send an e-mail to Lori Lane info(at)strategicrenewal(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY IN INDIA FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS — Here’s an opportunity to travel to Central and North India to capture stories of God’s work in India among the unreached. This two month trip will include visiting our various Bible Colleges, Mercy Homes, and field missionaries – getting professional job experience in various fields. If you are interested in experiencing native missions first hand while using your skills for the kingdom, please contact the Media Director: Stephen Ernst sernst(at)rimi(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] or call +1-847-856-9321 or browse to

http://www.rimi.org

to learn more about Reaching Indians Ministries Int’l.

WATCH WHAT YOU DO WITH THOSE VIDEO CLIPS — This past week we heard from a brother who had just spent a week with local citizens in a sensitive country. They were training local believers for personal evangelism in hostile environments. Apparently, a That led to a decision that no team member, including the director, would any longer grant video taped interviews to anyone at all — even when you are one of the team partners as is my case. More than being disappointed in not getting video for a story that select others need to hear, I was really disturbed that some camera happy brother had carelessly put our team members here even more at risk than they already are. It would be even more disturbing if I were to discover that this individual were using those video clips for his own personal gain in support raising. You know the routine — personal publicity about how well connected one is with frontliners, etc. The Church in today’s world needs to care for the security of those who are out there doing the hard stuff, not parade them for all the world to know about. So please, watch what you do with those video clips. (Thanks to the anonymous brother who shared this testimony.)

FOLLOW-THROUGH RESOURCE FOR SHORT-TERM TEAMS — “The Next Mile” is a collaborative effort of over 30 mission agencies and organizations who believe that a successful short-term mission experience is one that brings about a long-term commitment to God’s purpose in the lives of those participating. Their collective purpose: to address the “black hole” of short-term missions by providing resources for effective follow-through.

Phase one of The Next Mile includes curriculum for short-term teams that places special emphasis on the follow-up for team members. For example, the Mile Post devotional contains 52 self-paced devotionals designed to encourage returning team members to stretch their experience into a life changing milestone. For more information, USA callers can contact The Next Mile toll free while others can call via Net2Phone at 800-533-5822. Visit on the web at

http://www.thenextmile.org

or email info(at)thenextmile(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

COSIM FOCUSES ON PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIGENOUS MINISTRIES — The next annual COSIM conference is scheduled for June 11-13, 2007 at the Billy Graham Center, Wheaton, IL. The theme is “Breaking Tradition to Accomplish Vision: From frustration to joy in cross-cultural partnerships.” The featured plenary speakers and facilitators are Sherwood Lingenfelter. Paul Gupta, and John Watters. This will be a highly interactive conference to facilitate practical training, creative dialog, case study analysis, and strategic thinking – to equip and encourage Christian leaders engaged in cross-cultural ministry partnerships. For more information, visit the COSIM web site:

There are 4 different plans available, so you can scale your plan to your specific pattern of use. Costs per minute for United Kingdom range from 12 cents/min. down to *two* cents/min. Other countries are similar. You’ll call a local number then use a PIN — or a toll-free number (for a bit more) when you travel. You can designate your home phone as “pinless.” (Thanks David!)

BONDING IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL — Thanks to those who gave feedback on bonding (as popularized by the Brewsters’ little blue book, “Bonding and the Missionary Task.” It’s plain to see that bonding is still alive and well, and that, though it can introduce hardship, it can also greatly bless. It also seemed that, confirming my hunch, it’s being applied in a very spotty way. There was a clear consensus, though, that it’s worth the effort — when implemented with reason.

MINISTRY TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS — MATS Ministry has been providing for the transportation needs of Christian Ministries since 1977. They’ve provided cars, trucks, vans, buses, bicycles, motorcycles, for domestic, field, retired, furlough, personal use. Get new or used, most any brand, model, make, most any place! There sole objective is to save you money when your need is for ministry. Find them on the web at

http://www.mats.org

or email car(at)mats(dot)org or call toll free 888-776-7211 in the USA or 765-965-7777.

SERVE IN BENIN — Short-term mission opportunities are available for those wishing to minister to the interior and unreached people of Benin Republic. Serve 3-6 months distributing evangelistic materials, tracts, reading glasses, Bibles and discussion with the villagers. There is no salary for the services but feeding, accommodation and materials for evangelism will be given. Those interested should email

pcminternational(at)hotmail(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] or browse to

http://pcm.ministryhome.org

(Remember to check out each ministry for yourself before you seek to serve there.)

ARE YOU A BRIGADA LURKER? — We welcome lurkers… those who participate in this ministry by reviewing Brigada Todays, then occasionally using a resource or two here and there, or even passing something on to a teammate or friend. After all, that’s why we go to all this trouble. But we also are very *grateful* for those who undergird this work with an occasional gift. Whether you’re a missions rep. in a local church or a missionary overseas or a college prof — either way, we’re glad you’re hear. If you would spur along our work, we’d be ever-so-grateful. The moment we make our 2006 budget, we’ll not mention money again for the remainder of the year. For more information, visit:

http://www.brigada.org

and click on “sponsor” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a credit card), or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. In any case, thanks for considering Brigada in your estate giving, your monthly church missions fund, and/or your own personal giving for this calendar year.

THE BACKPAGE: GRACE IS OUR TEACHER — Lately, I’ve been pondering the concept that grace is our *teacher*. It beckons us to walk a pure life because, when given freely, we then serve Him out of *gratitude* rather than because of rules. Galatians 3:24 says the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ . . . but once we come to understand the life of faith, then *grace* becomes our schoolmaster to teach us to be like Jesus himself. Discovering this little point is both freeing and sobering all at the same time. While we celebrate the fact that, in the end, we know we can count on Heaven for eternity (only through the blood of Christ), we are *broken* when we realize that we have abused the freedoms that God gave us, taking them much too far for our own good. So in the end, living life is like constantly walking in that trust… but at the same time, constantly being sorry for the times we’ve abused it. Romans 12:1-2 reads, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” No wonder Paul would break into praise in the middle of his writings. He was so touched by God’s love. Let’s face it — without that love, we’re toast. Thank God for Grace.

As a partnership of members, Initiative360 will walk alongside churches on their missional journey with life-changing products, services, curriculum, and real-time experiences. Sounds like a perfect marriage of two top-notch organizations. We look forward to hearing more.

THE GLORY STORY PROJECT — Here’s a DVD that tells the story from Genesis to Revelation in animation. The whole Bible story in 10 minute chapters, is told in just under two hours. Two Covenants, two DVD’s, one story, The Glory Story. These guys sent me samples of this product and, honestly, it’s a cool idea that you could use with children *and* adults. Pull the snippets for upcoming messages on practically any topic in the Word. Interested? Watch the film trailers at The Glory Story website:

They’ve also shared still pictures & text CD’s as well. With these, you tell the story personally. View all of the pictures at The Glory Story website.

FREE SERVICES ABOUNDING ON THE NET — I’m kind of surprised by all the free services that are once again cropping up on the Internet. One of the columnists I read regularly was recently observing them: Mapquest, Google search, Google news, YouTube, Flickr, Putfile, Gmail, Skype, GTalk, jot, photobucket, … and the list goes on and on and on… How all these services sell enough ads to stay in business, I’ll never know. Maybe they don’t… in which case they end up getting bought out … or they start charging us someday, once we’re hooked. Either way, in the meantime, those of us who like a good deal should be able to find it out there online somewhere. Just be careful not to tie up a lot of your media without a backup. Someday we might try to access our stuff, only to find it’s vanished like a puff of smoke.

INTERNET SEARCH WARNING TO WORKERS IN SENSITIVE COUNTRIES — [Thanks to the anonymous worker in an anonymous sensitive country who wrote, …] If you serve in a sensitive country, chances are you try to keep information about your work off the internet. So how would you know if some well-meaning church or organization is posting your newsletter on their website. Of course, you search the internet, right? WRONG! Every time you request info via a search engine you are again reminding that search engine that it needs to keep a history of whatever key words you are searching for. Even if you contact the offending website and get the original page deleted, the page lives on in the history of the search engine. You are in a catch 22 position. The more you do the searches, the more you are hurting yourself. Stop searching so that the history of these search engines will eventually “forget” you. Make sense? Don’t search!

THE NAMA/DAMARA PEOPLE: “WE WANT TO LEARN” — Amanda, a 24-year-old Christian woman lives in Grunau, Namibia. She is a single, unemployed Nama. Although she is a member of a Lutheran church, the church does not reach to unsaved people. Amanda wanted to start a Bible study in her home, but the church did not encourage it, and she had no materials. While two Christian workers visited her, they shared and discussed the principles of Pioneer Evangelism and left tracts and Bible portions from the book of John for her to use. They prayed for her mother, who had been a church leader. In the final stages of AIDS, the older woman is no longer welcome at the church. Please pray for Amanda to be strong in her faith. Pray that she will continue to have courage to reach out to the unsaved and ostracized. Pray that the members of this church will come to know the true meaning of grace, peace and mercy that comes with having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray for continued teaching so these forgotten people will come to know the truth of God’s Word. Adopt the Nama/Damara people for prayer by visiting

http://www.forgottenpeoples.info or email lynchdp(at)iafrica(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

PERSECUTED CHURCH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NETWORK ESTABLISHED — Responding to the serious, growing economic challenge for persecuted Christians, 16 leaders from 11 international organizations met recently in Atlanta to form the Persecuted Church Economic Development Network (PCEDN) to explore how the global church can assist fellow believers. In addition to discussing the status of the persecuted church, the group also agreed on broad definitions relating to micro-finance, sustainable small and large enterprise development, tentmaking and macro-economic conditions. Moreover, leaders identified critical roadblocks to economically helping the emerging, persecuted church. PCEDN Working Groups will address the need for sustainable economic develop models and standards for training and consulting with the emerging church. Plans are also underway for a PCEDN enewsletter and website. The next global meeting of the PCEDN will be held spring 2007 in Bangkok. For more information contact David,

cdmustine(at)aol(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

The working consultation was developed and facilitated by visionSynergy

WHY DID YOUNG ISAIAH FEEL GUILTY? — He tells us he saw the Lord, he heard angels calling to one another, he realized that he himself was ‘unclean’ in the presence of a holy God. So what happened next? To find out, go to

GATHERING OF LATIN AMERICAN COMICS ARTISTS — COMIX35 is calling on all Christian cartoonists and comics artists from Central and South America to gather at this year’s combined Letra Viva Consulta and LITT- WORLD 2006 conference near Sao Paulo, Brazil from November 12 to 17. In addition to the opportunity for fellowship and discussion with other Christian comics producers, and to hear practical and inspirational talks by the LITT-WORLD speakers, attending artists will also meet many Christian writers, editors, and publishers.

THE ZHUANG OF SOUTHERN CHINA — October 1st begins a month long prayer emphasis for the over 17 million unreached Zhuang of Southern China. They are the largest people group in the world without a Bible in their own language. Each month on the first is a time of prayer and fasting on behalf of Zhuang, but in the month of October each year there is a special emphasis. There is a full color prayer guide “31 Days for the Zhuang” available in several languages. The price is US $1 per book for one to fifty copies, after 50 copies it is sixty cents a copy and the postage charge to mail them. To be added to the list of those who are taking part, or to receive the prayer guide, write:

zhuang(at)pobox(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

ONLY 3 MONTHS LEFT TO HELP BRIGADA PAY ITS SECRETARY FOR 2006 — If you were considering helping Brigada during 2006 but haven’t yet, now would be a *reeeeeeeally* good time. Only 3 months remain. Want to help underwrite this weekly newsletter for thousands of overseas readers who don’t have access to checking accounts or credit cards? If you subscribe to another magazine, consider donating the cost of a subscription . . . or give double, so you can pay someone else’s share too. Just click on “sponsor” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a credit card), or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. In any case, thanks for considering Brigada in your estate giving, your monthly church missions fund, and/or your own personal giving for this calendar year.

THE BACKPAGE: “HURTING YOU IS LIKE HURTING ME” — With 3 school shootings in 5 days, the USA is reeling as it seeks to come to grips with violence played out against its most vulnerable citizens — it’s young people. Our mission happens to be engaged in purchasing some gazebos for use as prayer shelters . . . and we’re buying the kits from a company in Pennsylvania with several Amish employees. Yesterday morning, I picked up the phone and called to let them know that, “If someone hurts one of your children, it’s like they hurt one of mine.” The owner of the company took time to talk to me for 20′, I bet. He had gone to school as a child just a mile from the site of the most recent shooting, a one-room schoolhouse in rural PA. He transferred my call to a sales rep who was having a hard time . . . and before the day was done, they asked my permission to have one of their delivery guys call me. He was on the road in Maine… unable to process and debrief the shootings with his colleagues back in PA. In the middle of our phone call, he broke down and cried at the prospect that a random guy in Louisville would express identification with him and his neighbors of a different faith.

All of the above led me to conclude that we probably need to be more intentional about *empathy*. I mean… think about Jesus’ life: much of it was built around the concept of empathy. He walked our dusty paths, ate our food, was tempted with the same transgressions — yet remained sinless. Gave his life… rose again… so that in turn, we could empathize with Him in his struggle and victory.

So maybe it’s a key principle of the Christian faith . . .and one that we should/could employ on a daily basis. With whom can you empathize today? How can you express it? Simple words and prayers might be enough. They seemed to work for a bunch of builders in Pennsylvania. But you could also choose greeting cards, flowers, visits, cookies, emails, phone calls, … the list is endless. Let’s practice empathy and walk dusty roads with someone who needs a friend — today.

NEW MAP IS REALLY COOL — Our office is getting tons of positive feedback on a new map we have on display in our auditorium. It’s “The Global Status of Evangelical Christianity Map” and it’s now available online at:

When it comes to communicating unreached peoples and providing a global perspective on the current status of world evangelization, it rivals some of the best maps you’ve ever seen. It has a kind of satellite-at- night look to it . . . very high on the “cool factor”. The greatest part is — they’re even going to make a gift to Brigada, if you tell them you learned about it here. What’s more, they’re selling them very close to cost. If you order 10 or more you receive even a greater discount. Feel free to relay this Brigada to them.

TWO NEW RESOURCES CELEBRATING GLOBAL WORSHIP — “All the World is Singing: Glorifying God through the music of the nations” traces the amazing use of culturally-appropriate music in evangelism, church- planting, discipleship and worship. This Reader of 45 stories comes bundled with a CD-ROM illustrating the stories with audio, video, pictures, music scores and other media. For information see

Also available is “Sounds of Global Worship II,” an audio CD of 22 songs from 16 regions from around the world. A colorful 28-page booklet serves as a listener’s guide to this tour of the global church at worship. Songs come from Asia, Africa, Middle East, Central Europe, Central America and South America. For more information, visit

ffort2(at)aol(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] (Thanks to these folks for pitching in $50 toward the costs of operating Brigada! We appreciate you!)

SENIOR DIRECTOR POSITION OPEN AT THE CHALMERS CENTER — The Chalmers Center for Economic and Community Development

a research and educational initiative of Covenant College, seeks to equip churches, missionaries, Christian ministries, and college students to declare the Kingdom of God in word and in deed by bringing economic development and spiritual transformation in the context of poor communities around the globe. The Senior Director reports to the Director and is the primary person responsible for managing the Chalmers Center’s human and financial resources in order to maximize the Chalmers Center’s impact.

[Web-only excerpt: Responsibilities Include: overseeing the design and implementation of a strategic operations plan to achieve the Center’s short- and long-range objectives; hiring and managing all international and domestic personnel; designing and implementing the budget; directly managing approximately six staff members. Qualifications: master’s degree in management, international development, or related field; minimum two years experience in international relief and development work; three years experience with supervision and financial management; outstanding organizational skills and ability to attend to details; ability to listen well and to work in a team-oriented fashion; ability to travel to Third World for several weeks at a time; excellent written and oral communication skills; demonstrated vision, initiative and ability to work independently with minimal supervision; discretion, judgment, and ability to deal with confidential matters. Committed to Jesus Christ and the missions of the Chalmers Center and Covenant College and to growing increasingly familiar with their distinctives. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes a comprehensive benefits package. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.]

Send resume and a testimony of Christian faith and experience to Director of Human Resources, Covenant College, 14049 Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain, Georgia 30750; 706-820-1560 or email employment(at)covenant(dot)edu – [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] (postal address available in the web edition).

HELP SUPPORT BRIGADA, PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FINANCIAL LOSS! -– Did you know that a medical evacuation from a foreign country can cost over $100,000 to get a sick or injured person back to the US? What if you could get insurance for a couple dollars a day (or less) that would protect you from having to pay that type of expense yourself? And what if you could help Brigada at the same time? Well, through a partnership between Brigada and Insurance Services of America it is now possible to do so! When you purchase insurance from Insurance Services of America on Brigada’s website your purchase will help to support Brigada’s work with the missionary community! Coverage is available for any international need – short-term trips, career missionaries, trip cancellation, short-term teams and term life insurance. For coverage details, rates and the online applications of the Brigada sponsored plans, go to

Insurance Services of America has agreed to help support Brigada from sales that are made on this link, so when you purchase on this site you will be helping to support Brigada and you will be protecting yourself and your ministry from catastrophic financial loss!(Thanks to ISA for the great help already given through this program thus far.)

HOW SHOULD AN “MK MEMBER CARE” PERSON BEGIN? — Suppose you were asked to advise a new MK Member Care Rep. at your favorite missionary sending organization. How would you suggest getting started? Which books or websites would you recommend? What conferences would be essential? Which organizations or services would you cite? Well — consider yourself asked! Heather, charged with starting such a ministry at Team Expansion, will receive info then assemble it for us to reprint here as a feature in a couple of weeks. Do you have info for her? By sharing it, you’ll be helping the whole evangelical missions world. Just email Heather at…

TCK-MK-ministry(at)TeamExpansion(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

She’ll report back in a couple of weeks.

TRAINING COORD. POSITION OPEN AT THE CHALMERS CENTER – The Chalmers Center for Economic and Community Development

is seeking a Training Coordinator, who reports to the Senior Director and is the primary person responsible for the development and effective dissemination of the Center’s training products and services.

[Web-only excerpt: Responsibilities include: developing, managing, and staffing a multi-track, global training program with multiple delivery mechanisms on four continents; overseeing the writing and contextualization of training materials incorporating biblical worldview messages into technical curricula; designing and implementing a strategy for recruiting, developing, and supporting a global fraternity of volunteer trainers. Requirements include: minimum of a master’s degree in adult education or related field; three years experience in adult education in the Two-Thirds World; outstanding skills and demonstrated competency as a trainer; ability to think, train, and write from a biblical worldview perspective; excellent organizational skills and ability to attend to details; ability to listen well and to work in a team-oriented fashion; ability to travel to the Two-Thirds World for two to three weeks at a time; superior written and oral communication skills; demonstrated vision, initiative and ability to work independently with minimal supervision; committed to Jesus Christ and the missions of the Chalmers Center and Covenant College and to growing increasingly familiar with their distinctives. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes a comprehensive benefits package. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.]

Send resume and a testimony of Christian faith and experience to Director of Human Resources, Covenant College, 14049 Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain, Georgia 30750; tel. 706-820-1560 or email employment(at)covenant(dot)edu to check it out [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address, please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .].

THE ZHUANG OF SOUTHERN CHINA — October 1st will begin a month long prayer emphasis for the over 17 million unreached Zhuang of Southern China. They are the largest people group in the world without a Bible in their own language. Each month on the first is a time of prayer and fasting on behalf of Zhuang, but in the month of October each year there is a special emphasis. There is a full color prayer guide, “31 Days for the Zhuang” available in several languages. The price is US $1 per book for one to fifty copies, after 50 copies it is sixty cents a copy and the postage charge to mail them. Please join the world on October 1st for the October 1st 2006 Day Of Prayer for the Zhuang. To be added to the list of those who will take part, or to receive the prayer guide, please write:

zhuang(at)pobox(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

MISSIONARIES: FREE HELP FINDING NEW FINANCIAL SUPPORT — “Mission: World” is a new web site to support an upcoming campaign to engage large numbers of U.S. Christians in “Sending” missionaries (starting with regular financial support and growing from there). In preparation for this campaign, they are recruiting missionaries to be “findable” by potential supporters. (They have special provisions for the security of missionaries working in creative access situations.) The unique approach of this site is to provide potential Senders with a database covering the full range of evangelical missionary activity, searchable by location, ministry focus, organization, sending church and denomination. Each registered missionary must have a U.S. based contact (advocate) who is willing to take and screen inquiries about the missionary. This site is privately funded, and there is no cost for this service. There is presently no provision for registration by email. But those of you with web access should register at

SUPPORT-RAISING CONFERENCE — Tap into more then 35 years of experience by learning from Bill Dillon as he shares fund raising ideas. The People Raising conference is designed to Double your effectiveness in raising individual or organizational funds. Attend the People Raising basic conference September 15-16. Move beyond the fear factor and raise more funds in half the time. Implement 10 key habits for success. Network with other Christian leaders. Arm yourself with tools needed for effective fund raising. You can’t afford to miss this breakthrough 2-day conference. Ask for the $100 spouse discount. This conference is essential for those raising personal support, coaching others or raising organizational funds. For more information or to register on-line go to

or e-mail BillPeopleRaisingcom [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

NEED TO DIAL ABROAD? CHECK OUT DIALABROAD — Thanks to the folks at Dialabroad.com for the $143.27 they sent this past week to say thanks for the phone calls you made in May and June. If you need phone service anyway, and if it’s all the same for you, try using …

FREE CROSS BOOKMARKS TO MISSIONARIES — Crosses for Christ is a new mission project which is a network of crocheters around the world making beautiful white cross bookmarks. These bookmarks are given free to any mission project regardless of denomination. Currently, Crosses for Christ is working on sending 200 crosses to an orphanage in Liberia, 200 crosses to a Leprosy Hospital in Havana, Cuba and another 300 to a mission in the Philippines. Missionaries from any country are welcome to go to the blog at

SPEED BRIGADA ON ITS WAY — Want to help make Brigada possible for those in other lands? Now you can pitch in on their behalf by clicking on “sponsor” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a credit card), or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. In any case, thanks for considering Brigada in your estate giving, your monthly church missions fund, and/or your own personal giving for this calendar year.

THE BACKPAGE: HOW DO YOU HANDLE LOSS? — I moonlight as a soccer coach for a local Christian high school, the Christian Academy of Louisville (CAL). (See our soccer website at:

This past week, we participated in a tournament in Bloomington, Indiana. It was a great experience. 44 teams, big buses, vendors, the works. For our tournament opener, we were paired with a team that has a real dynasty for soccer in Indiana. They went all the way to the “final four” in the state last year, losing to the championship team by 1 goal. Shew… their speed of play was outlandish. It didn’t matter what they attempted to do, they did it “like killin’ snakes!” Everything was so fast — the thinking, the passing, and … yes… the shooting. :-) So when the final whistle blew, and the score was 12-0 (our loss), maybe you’ll think our team was bummed out. But the funny thing was — just the opposite was true. Several players came off the field saying, “Coach that was the best game we’ve ever played.” “Coach, I loved that. Can we learn to play like that?!” “Coach Lucas, that was a blast!” Why were most of our players able to view that game as an education, rather than a thrashing? I think maybe part of it was due to the position I had taken with them before, during and immediately after the game. Yes I had told them we’d like to win that game, but I had also told them how much I was looking forward to us experiencing a very high level of play. I had prepared them in advance (as much as I could) for the differences they’d see. During the game, I consistently praised them for the good things they were doing right, but I also tried to point out the great things the opponents were doing. I tried to help them *admire* the opponents instead of resent them.

In missions, my hunch is, we’re all going to experience failure now and then. In fact, sometimes the failure could seem devastating. I’m wondering how we can learn to appreciate the lessons we can learn in the midst of failure… to treat failure like a rubix cube… to twist it and turn it and look at it objectively. How can we learn to treat failure as a *process* rather than an event. We can wallow in it… or we can see it from different perspectives and interrupt it at any time with new behaviors. Sometimes those behaviors will actually be modeled directly after the lessons we learn from mistakes and let-downs.

Your mission, if you should decide to accept it, is to be mentally ready to learn from failure, then apply those lessons learned to the next game in life.

Momentum Magazine is edited by Justin Long. I really like the direction Justin is going with his work. To me, he has taken statistics to a new level. Somehow he has transformed mere numbers and math into feelings and people. There are hundreds of little paragraphs I want to memorize or shout from a mountain top or a church pulpit. In short, his work is inspirational, if not sometimes a bit depressing. Sometimes it takes a bit of depression to get us off square one… or square zero. So … in summary, I say bravo to Justin and his efforts to make Momentum Magazine into a rallying cry for masses of new world Christians and the new wave of missionaries they will send. Momentum Magazine is one of the few bright spots in missions mobilization today. It should be required reading for every Brigada subscriber. Do I agree with all his theology? Nope. But do I agree with his ache for the world’s least reached? But of course. And so will you.

GET INFO ON UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS *TODAY* — In April 2006, the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board released the pilot version of the North American People Groups Database project,

at the Ethnic America Summit in Atlanta. The website contains 2000 Census data for language spoken at home, country of birth, and ancestry by city, county, and zip code. Additionally, local pilot research in the Atlanta area provided over 30 people groups in the Chinese, Arab, and Mexican communities alone. Many other functionalities exist on the website as well, including: an online discussion forum for North American people group workers, a resource request form, and a toolbox for those wishing to begin people group research in their area. The website is still in the pilot phase but improvements will be made in the months ahead. Get registered today to benefit from all this online database has to offer!

Training organizations that are members of an evangelical alliance or similar association can now register their courses on the international Evangelical Training Database. This is free and courses are then searchable world-wide through English and Spanish interfaces. The Missionary Training Service, sponsor of the project, is liaising with member bodies of the International Commission for Evangelical Theological Education (ICETE) and the Trainers of Pastors International Coalition (TOPIC) and similar associations. They hope it will become a world-wide resource for anyone needing training. Geoff Tunnicliffe, leader of the World Evangelical Alliance kindly said, “We certainly want to find ways of seamlessly integrating this into our WEA web presence”. Dr Chris Wright, Director of the Langham Partnership International (John Stott Ministries), and chairman of the Lausanne Theology Working Group, is also supporting the project. Translations into other languages are being planned.

THREE NEW CHURCH PLANTING BOOKS — Church Planting Coaches, a ministry of YWAM Frontier Missions, has just published several new books to help you and your workers to start brand new church planting movements on the frontiers. Stop on by their two internet stores to find out more. Two titles: The Compendium of Church Planting Knowledge and Multiplying Churches Student Notes are available at:

This books presents simple, New Testament principles for planting churches cross-culturally. Through attractive cartoons, that can be used in any language, follow Stephanas, a first-century cross-cultural worker, and his apostolic team as they multiply simple churches among the unreached. Learn how to turn the world upside down! Major credit cards accepted.

OPERATION REVEILLE WEB SITE UPDATED — Articles include Insights for Persuading Muslims and Post-Moderns, News on Situations in Iran and Afghanistan and on Religious Changes in Africa, A List of Recommended Books on Islam, and more at

You may request a pdf, html, or hard copy from bside(at)oprev(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MOSES? — Was he a stern dictator, the angry judge of a rebellious nation? The Bible calls him ‘the servant of the Lord’ and says that ‘the Lord knew him face to face.’ To discover his true character go to:

Click on Exodus, then choose Unit 2: Moses – the problem of feeling inadequate, by Raymond Brown. This interesting study of a great man has been translated into EasyEnglish Level B (2800 word vocabulary) by Mary Read.

LITERATURE FOR FULANIS — Free papers for the Fulani of West Africa are available from SOON Ministries in several dialects, and also in downloadable PDF files from the website. In addition, the team will be glad to partner with other groups in producing additional dialect versions.

KIDS PRAYING FOR KIDS — A DVD compilation of three, six minute videos of Prayerwalking for Kids, The 10/40 Window for Kids, Prayer and Fasting for Kids, and a special bonus track of The 10/40 Window for Adults. This mini-movie library is a great resource for Sunday Schools, Children’s Church, Homeschoolers, and grandparents who want prayer passionate grand-kids. You can order it from Joey and Fawn at…

by clicking on resources, or write fawn(at)reignbridge(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

THE ZHUANG OF SOUTHERN CHINA — October 1st will begin a month long prayer emphasis for the over 17 million unreached Zhuang of Southern China. They are the largest people group in the world without a Bible in their own language. Each month on the first is a time of prayer and fasting on behalf of Zhuang, but in the month of October each year there is a special emphasis. There is a full color prayer guide “31 Days for the Zhuang” available in several languages. The price is US $1 per book for one to fifty copies, after 50 copies it is sixty cents a copy and the postage charge to mail them. Please join others on October 1st for the October 1st 2006 Day Of Prayer For The Zhuang. To be added to the list of those who will take part, or to receive the prayer guide, please write: zhuang(at)pobox(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

PLANNING A WEBSITE? — Before you start, there are two key questions to ask, and a detailed profile of your potential visitors to develop. Use Internet Evangelism Day’s printable worksheet to help you.

GRATEFUL FOR OUR PARTNERS — Thanks to the anonymous donors who, this past week, gave $10, $10, $25, $25, and $50 to help speed along our work with Brigada. Thanks also to Blessings Int’l in Tulsa, OK, who just sent $100. Does your church operate a medical clinic? Blessings International has pharmaceuticals, vitamins, over-the-counter medicines, and medical supplies available for use in non-profit clinics at reduced costs. Check them out at:

Thanks to those who have switched their long distance service to Accxx via Blessed Hope. Their conversations yielded a gift of $12.89 to Brigada this past month. Our family is one of those that have switched and I can honestly tell you… the long distance works great! :-) If you’ve ever thought about switching from huge companies who will never miss you if you left, try stopping by the page at:

We’re also grateful to short-term teams from College Heights Christian Church (Joplin, MO) and Highline Christian Church (Seattle, WA) who chose ISA as their insurer during their trip. Because of ISA’s commitment to tithe all of the sales which say, “I heard about you on Brigada,” they sent $145.46 this past week! May God bless these short- term teams and make it so these policies are not needed. That way ISA won’t have to pay out any benefits, making them happy; the teams won’t experience any loss, thereby making *them* happy; yet Brigada will have still benefited making *Brigada* happy! :-) Everybody wins! :-) Check out ISA at:

1/2 THROUGH THE YEAR, 1/4 THROUGH OUR FINANCIAL GOALS :-( — There are some readers out there with a little extra means. The good news is… those with a little extra can make it possible for *all* to connect with Brigada, simply by saying, “I’ll help.” Maybe you can only spare a $50 gift, once a year. But see… those $50 gifts would add up. As it stands now, we’re 50% through the year with only 25% of the funds for which we had been praying. Would you be able to help fix that problem? If so, just go to

and click on “sponsor” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a credit card), or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. In any case, thanks for considering Brigada in your estate giving, your monthly church missions fund, and/or your own personal giving for this calendar year.

THE BACKPAGE: IS EVERYBODY THIS BUSY? — Recently, I had to jot down some of my roles for a brief introduction I was writing and, frankly, it was kind of startling. Is everybody attempting to pull off this kind of schedule? (May I just think out loud here for a sec’?) Maybe it’s a symptom of being too interested in lots of different investments of time. I’m a husband to a great wife and a dad to two incredible sons, a son to my aging mother, an elder in my local church, where I play piano and keyboard with the worship team while serving as Chairman of the Missions Committee. I enjoy trying to stay fairly in tune with developments in technology, communications, computing, photography, and a dozen other interests.

In addition, I’m a high school varsity boys soccer coach for a large Christian school nearby. So I invest about 3 hours, 5 nights a week in these 18 boys (and their respective families). By the way, just for fun, you can see their progress this coming season at:

I’m *soooo* close to being done with my Ph.D. dissertation. Just a couple of chapters, actually. But alas, so much of that has gone on hold with Emerald Hills.

And then there’s Brigada. Eventually, I always manage to catch up… one issue a week for 11 years. Yikes. :-) Brigada participants are so patient, too. Sometimes I get 3 weeks behind . . . yet the kind words and encouraging testimonies give me hope that somewhere, somehow, this information is helpful to someone.

On top of all that, I’m interested in people’s lives. So last night I drove 40 minutes to go hear one of our workers do a presentation on Afghanistan at a local church camp. Today I’ll drive 30 minutes to pray with the wife of one of our trainers before her surgery. This weekend I’ll drive 5 hours to speak in a local church that’s helping our ministry.

Shew.

Are we busy yet? :-)

So this morning I was just thinking… Is this just my own life… or is this happening to everyone? It’s not that I’m unhappy or feel stressed. The truth is… I’m having a blast in life. I’m happy and eventually, I usually catch up on enough sleep to get by. So why am I writing about this? I guess I’m just wanting to make sure we all examine our respective lives… that we take our pulse to be sure that we still care very deeply about unreached peoples. That we’ll still live our lives, even with all these different involvements, in such a way that they’ll hear the message. That we’ll still dedicate ourselves to trying to reach them. That we still won’t quit ’til they’ve had a chance to hear.

From Genesis to Revelation, God’s global purpose to reach all peoples unfolds in this power packed graphically dynamic presentation. The whole DVD (20 minutes) also includes 4 chapters (@5 minutes each) Biblical, Historical, Unreached People, and Involvement. Select which section you want to show for your teaching or mission promotions. It’s great for intercession times and even Sunday school classes at your local church.

This new DVD can be used as a teaching tool for Perspectives courses, mission conferences, churches and schools. It serves as an inspirational visual masterpiece to unfold God’s blessing for every believer – to join Him in reaching all peoples and thus fulfill God’s global purpose.

To order the Global Purpose, please visit Create’s online store: http://www.createinternational.com/store (Thanks to Create Int’l for pitching in $100 toward Brigada’s 2006 budget. Please thank them with checking out this innovative product.)

OSCAR HOSTS 1000 AT VIRTUAL PARTY — On 1st March 2006, OSCAR, the web-based UK Information Service for World Mission, relaunched it’s website with a virtual party on the Internet.

“We wanted an event that would potentially involve everyone who uses the OSCAR website, wherever they are,” says Mike Frith, OSCAR’s Founding Director. The re-launch also coincided with the organisation’s sixth birthday. Within the first few days of March 1st, the website was achieving over 1000 unique users per day and on the first day over 15,000 page views were reported. Mike continues “With our new website we are seeking to build an online community of people involved or interested in world mission. We want it to provide an interface for all those who wish to engage with the world for Christ’s sake, whether they are working overseas, supporting from home or just surfing for inspiration.”

Party goers are able to play virtual hide & seek, virtual pass the parcel, and mingle with other virtual party goers during activities and discussions. Everyone is invited to join in the party which continues until the end of March at http://www.oscar.org.uk (Oscar has also pitched in $50 this past week toward Brigada’s 2006 expenses. Please support this new Brigada sponsor . . . and to the folks at Oscar, we say “Thanks!!!”)

GOING ON A MISSION TRIP? NEED INSURANCE? WANT TO HELP BRIGADA? – As was mentioned before, there are a lot of companies that offer international health, evacuation and travel insurance, but now when you purchase insurance from Insurance Services of America on Brigada’s website your purchase will help to support Brigada’s work with the missionary community! Coverage is available for any international need – short-term trips, career missionaries, trip cancellation, short-term teams and term life insurance.

For coverage details, rates and the online applications of the Brigada sponsored plans, go to http://www.missionaryhealth.net/brigada.htm . Insurance Services of America has agreed to help support Brigada from sales that are made on this link, so when you purchase on this site you will be helping to support Brigada! We all benefit from your business and we thank you!

GGING ABOUT 21ST CENTURY MISSIONS — Urbana.org has just launched a new blog called Missional Hands designed to interview personnel staff from various mission agencies about one question – What is the most important skill to be a missionary in the 21st Century? Jon Hirst, Director of Communications for HCJB World Radio is writing the blog and is providing interaction for those students looking for more input on these key questions. This is a great resource for people considering missions as it asks the hard questions and tries to provide straightforward answers. Visit: http://www.urbana.org/blogs/blog.main.hands.cfm

MISSIONARY TRAINING CAMP — With many requests for additional training, Elijah Company has scheduled an additional orientation from May 18-21, 2006. The four days provide steps, stamina and stature for missions. See http://www.elijahcompany.org for a description of the training and comments made by past participants. For additional information write to elijah(at)elijahcompany(dot)org. Or call with any questions to 757- 226-3507.

CORRECTION ON PASTORS RETREAT NETWORK — Sorry that the Pastors Retreat Network isn’t in the position to invite missionaries after all. However, you could pass the word to your local church ministry staff. (Feb. 17th Brigada Today, Item #8, “NEED A GETAWAY?”) (To all those who might have checked with them, please pardon any inconvenience. They were recommended to us for that purpose.) However, Chad went beyond the call of duty and scoped out a dozen other locations that *do* take missionaries, some free, some for a charge. Click here to see the list of missionary retreat locations. (Thanks Chad!)

25 FREE SECURE EMAIL ACCOUNTS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION — That’s right. Strategic Kingdom Building Ministries (SKBM) desires to offer the subscribers of Brigada Today, especially brothers and sisters in the field, free Secure E-Mail Accounts. This offer is limited to 25 accounts per ministry or organization. Because this is a public web site, they request an application of need be filled out by your organization’s leader. And because these accounts are secure, they ask also that the organization leader act as the point of contact to validate each account. The organization leader should provide the required information in accordance with the application format below.

For further information and to set up the accounts, please contact Troy Fournier at troy_fournier(at)yahoo(dot)com. Just send Troy your organization’s name, mission, purpose of the accounts, website, full contact info, along with the Last name, first name, middle initial, and current e-mail address of all members requiring an account.

WEB OUTREACH FOCUS DAY ON 7 MAY — The Internet Evangelism Day website is at http://www.InternetEvangelismDay.com. The IE Day website contains many resources to help Christians understand and use the Internet to touch the world. It explains how to build a church website that can reach out into the community, or start an evangelistic blog. There is even a free evangelistic screensaver to download.

The site also offers materials for a mission team, training institution or church to easily stage a ‘web awareness’ focus program on 7 May (or at any time they choose). These include a PowerPoint presentation, video clips, music, drama skits, posters, discussion papers, handouts and many other ideas. (Thanks Tony!)

NEWS FROM CHINA — Are you interested in current events and news in China? There is a Yahoo Group that is dedicated to bringing you the latest, most relevant and most interesting English-language news items about China, including trends and events that affect the church in China. The purpose of this Yahoo Group is to provide timely information for fellow workers within China as well as Sinophiles around the world. For more details or to subscribe, check out the China News Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/steves_china_news/

EMERCY’S CHURCH MISSIONS LEADERSHIP TRAINING -— Emercy is hosting their second annual Missions Leadership Training Workshop in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on April 7-8, 2006. This workshop is designed to help church leaders mobilize their church for missions. Topics include Church mobilization, short-term teams, and ACMC’s Missions Assessment Profile. To register, call Emercy from the US toll free at 877-875-4483 or internationally: 205-409-4197. You can also register online at http://www.emercy.org/training

AQUAPONICS TRAINING — It is not too late to register for the Barrel Aquaponics Workshop and/or the Aquaponics Conference held at Camp Living Water, Bryson City, NC, March 27 & 28 and March 29 – 31. Instruction will focus on “Aquaponics”, which is the combining of aquaculture and hydroponics for mutual benefit. Course participants learn the techniques of inexpensively constructing and managing these highly productive systems which are adaptable to all types of environments and proving to be an effective outreach ministry. Come and enjoy a rich learning experience, fellowship with Believers of like interest and the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. For more information or to register, visit: http://www.aquacultureinternational.org Full-time missionaries can register at the student rate of $30 for the Workshop, $60 for the Conference or $75 for both.

CROSS-CULTURAL MINISTRY SEMINAR — Learn how to effectively minister in an international context by participating in short, informal summaries of proven research, strategic planning and biblical principles that have demonstrated real-world results in a variety of contexts. Worldview Research Group of Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, invites you to attend its fourth annual Cross-Cultural Ministry Seminar to be held 4-8 September 2006. Missionary Training International, just 15 minutes north of Colorado Springs, in beautiful Palmer Lake, Colorado will once again host the event. Topics include summaries on a worldview approach to ministry, primitive religions, chronological bible teaching and more. Seminar facilitators bring decades of experience, and feature Dr. David Hesselgrave, Dr. Tom Steffen, Bob Strauss, Mark Zook, George Walker and Greg Melendes. Whether heading to the field for the first time, or heading back soon for another term, you will definitely profit from this seminar. For more information regarding curriculum, on-line registration and accommodations, please go to http://www.wrg3.org USA callers can call toll-free at 1-866-750-9743. Others can dial +1-719-282-7891, or e-mail WRG at: info(at)wrg3(dot)org. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

GO TO THE NATIONS…AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER — Here’s an exciting and intensive 4-week TESOL course equipping you with effective English teaching techniques, sponsored by Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA. The dates are May 8 – June 2 and again June 19 – July 14, 2006. Get a certificate upon completion. Find details, application forms, and alternate dates listed on http://www.ywampa.org. E-mail to ywampa(at)comcast(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

LET THE PEOPLE PRAY: THE HERERO PEOPLE — Almost 4 years ago, God called a young man to Namibia to begin researching the unengaged peoples of this country. Would there be any people groups who had not heard the Gospel message? Yes! During his 2-year assignment, God brought across his path those from the Herero, Mbalantu, Nama/Damara and Namibian Coloured people groups. They had little or no evangelical presence among them. You have been faithfully praying that these Forgotten Peoples will have the opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. There continues to be many barriers for evangelical work in Namibia. Pray that the Lord will send workers into His harvest field! Pray that God will raise up Namibian men and women who have a passion to share Christ. Continually lift up the Herero, an unengaged people, before the Lord. Encourage others to adopt the Herero people for prayer by visiting http://www.forgottenpeoples.info or email sf_swac(at)altonet(dot)co(dot)za

AMAZING PARTNERS — Thanks to Dial-Abroad.com once again for their amazing partnership and great help to keep Brigada coming to your screen each week. If you’ve ever need to change phone services… or start a new service, I really hope you’ll consider them. Just browse to: http://www.dial-abroad.org/brigada.htm This past week they sent $74 more. Please keep talkin’! :-) Want to join them in becoming and amazing partner? Just click on “sponsor” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a credit card), or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. In any case, thanks for considering Brigada in your estate giving, your monthly church missions fund, and/or your own personal giving for this calendar year.

OPPORTUNITIES AT METRO DELHI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, INDIA — Metro Delhi Int’l School has tons of opportunities, including Middle School- Secondary School Teacher/Administrator, Secondary English-Language Arts Teacher, and many more. This is a Christian school that uses American Curriculum. They have students from 14 different countries, and they are in our 4th year. Log on at http://www.mdis.net for a free video or more information on the school email them at info(at)mdis(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

THE BACKPAGE: SPEAKING INTO THE LIFE OF A PEER OR BOSS — Ever hear the term “whistleblower?” The term is usually used to describe a worker who turns in the boss or a whole company for something unethical or incompatible with principles of honesty, fairness, or other company values. How can you avoid the stigma (or the pink slip) handed to a whistleblower, while still speaking into the life of a boss or company? First, work to become a supportive insider rather than a fence-sitting cynic. Sometimes, whistleblowers are already alienated long before they get publicity for “turning someone in.” Let’s face it: those who have built up a relationship of trust can usually communicate one-on-one. They don’t have to resort to confrontational “stunts” to get their point across. (*Usually* — there are exceptions.)

Second, remember that sometimes there are circumstances beyond the control of the boss or company… “Walk a mile in their moccasins” before you become a cynic. In other words, suppose you decide to confront your boss on the company’s lack of follow-through on a policy to recruit customer support personnel, only to find that the company has worked its tail off trying to *find* customer service personnel of the quality they are seeking. What we mean is — sometimes it’s easy to critique your boss or your team from your vantage point. Only as a trusted insider will you truly understand the long-term desires of your leadership.

Third, try to figure out how you can become a part of the solution, rather than a part of the whistle. If your team is short on finances, ask if you can take a portion of your work-week to take a class on support-raising, with a view to helping shore up needed finances. If you feel your church is losing people out the “back door”, volunteer to take a few hours/week to visit new converts in an attempt to supplement the training they’re getting. You get the idea. Think like an insider… Don’t view yourself as a “victim”. You’re not stuck. Think as a belonger. Ask, “What problem is my boss facing and how can I become a part of the solution to his problem, so it will in turn help me do my job better too?”

What if things go south? What if your best efforts are misunderstood? How do you handle it if your motives are misjudged? Tune in next week for the final “BackPage” in this series.

LEARN A PRACTICAL SKILL FOR MISSIONS — Simplified dental care can open many doors to evangelism and relationship building among the unreached. No drills, injections, electricity, or sophisticated equipment are involved – only simple hand instruments, a compassionate heart, and two weeks of your time. Now you can bring greatly needed dental care to your community. Courses offered monthly in Texas.

I guess you’ll see announcements from the people who have stuff to give away… and if you need it for free, you simply ask for it. That’s it. Free stuff. Try it. Emily says you’ll like it. :-) Jim agrees. (Thanks, you too! :-) )

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MK’S NEEDED — ServantCARE Ministry has recently been contacted by missionaries seeking help locating US college scholarships for their children. ServantCARE needs your help in compiling a list to make available on their website,

for missionaries to easily access via the web. Would you help them meet this need? Do you know of colleges? Please send the names, websites, and all pertinent related information to icare(at)servantcare(dot)com

PERSPECTIVES IS LOOKING FOR COMPUTER AND WEB DEVELOPMENT STAFF — The National Offices for the Perspectives Study Program recently relocated from Pasadena, CA to Fayetteville, AR. They are looking for a few folks with IT (MAC and PC) and web development experience to join their team as they prepare for the future of the Perspectives course both throughout the country and around the world. This would require putting together a personal support team, and at this point, they say that only US citizens need inquire. If you would like more information, call 479-587-1919 Ext. 102, or email David.Flynn(at)uscwm(dot)org

TRAINING PROGRAM FOR LITERACY EVANGELISM — Literacy & Evangelism International is holding a five-week training institute on literacy evangelism. Topics include: Basic Literacy, Developing Bible-content literacy materials in local languages, Literacy Evangelism and Discipleship, Teaching English as a Second Language , How to Conduct Tutor Training Workshops, How to run church-based literacy programs and other topics. If you are interested in this training and want to learn more about Literacy Evangelism, which is a blind spot in Christian missions, visit their website at

http://www.literacyevangelism.org or e-mail generalliteracyevangelismorg The dates of their International Literacy Training Institute are June 4 – July 8, 2006, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

CHINA RESOURCE PACK AVAILABLE FROM OMF — OMF International has recently published a resource that covers “all things China.” The China Resource Pack includes a book, four videos, a 30-day prayer guide written by China expert Tony Lambert (author of China’s Christian Millions), brochures, PowerPoint presentations and a web site:

The book and web site are each broken down into five main sections: History, Religion, Culture, People and Current Events. This could be a valuable resource for individuals, Sunday school classes, churches or missions organizations with an interest in China. Cost of the complete pack is $30 and is available at

For more information, email cberry(at)omf(dot)org. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

REACHING CENTRAL MEXICO TRIBES — Since 1994 E-VAN ministries have lead mission teams and projects in the cities of Fresnillo and Zacatecas. They have also pioneered with MCE (Ministerio a Grupos Etnicos) to minister to the “unreached” Tepehuan and Huichol Indians of the Sierra Madres. Mission trip opportunities are available for church groups to the cities or the mountain tribes. Teams may participate in pubic evangelism in cities or villages, the Tribal Bible school construction, and children’s ministry. Partnership is desired for the drilling of a water well at the Tepehuan Tribal Bible school, and the building of a simple church building among the Huichol Indians. For more info, contact Tim

HOSPITALITY HOMES — ServantCARE Ministry offers hospitality homes (US and overseas locations) to those in ministry. They will be traveling in April to establish much needed new homes near interstates in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma (Oklahoma City needed badly). They would like your help in connecting them with those who have the gift of hospitality who would like to serve in this manner. All the information needed, and questions answered, is found on their website

under “Hospitality Homes” They also have posted on their website 25 pages of “Referral Links”, many supplied by Brigada, to which they would like to add any other ministries across the country that meet needs of those in ministry. Please contact them at icare(at)servantcare(dot)com

MISSIONARY SURVEY FOR MEMBER/MISSIONARY CARE — Brenda is working on her doctoral dissertation entitled “Training of Missionary Care Workers”. Missionaries, please complete the anonymous missionary survey on the Internet at weblink

It will take approximately 12 minutes of your time to complete this survey by merely clicking on your choices before 15 May 2006. This study is an endeavour to enhance the care of missionaries and to resultantly prevent missionary attrition. A safe survey is available for those in restricted areas in a Word file sent via email at request at purejoy(at)gmx(dot)ch [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors in the preceding email address, replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

OF CHURCHES AND FLU PANDEMICS — Here’s an M.D. that feels strongly that churches and mission agencies would be well advised to consider planning for an eventual flu pandemic, not out of fear but out of obedience to Christ’s command to love our neighbors. Specifically, how can churches and mission agencies operate, minister, and stay in touch with members. Explore issues of ethics and morality, such as the order of triage and the allocation of scarce resources. As church members are encouraged and equipped to dialogue with their neighbors with the purpose of forming small mutual assistance groups in Christ’s name, we might even witness unprecedented church growth. If you or your agency/church would like help — or would share your plan, email Tim:

church_emergency_preparedness-owner(at)yahoogroups(dot)com or log on at

AIMS CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY — For 20 years, Accelerating International Mission Strategies (AIMS) has helped churches around the world complete the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. This year, AIMS will celebrate this important anniversary and cast a vision for the next era of ministry at a special celebration banquet. Church leaders, mission agencies, denominations, and individuals interested in learning more about AIMS or partnering with us in international mobilization are invited to join them at the Founders Inn and Conference in Virginia Beach on March 23 at 6:00 pm. Guest speakers include Dr. Howard Foltz, founder and CEO of AIMS, and Pat Robertson, founder and chairman of CBN. Cost is only $35 per person. For more information, call (757) 226-5850 or register online at

THE BACKPAGE: “GOD’S SPIRIT IS BLOWING A WIND OF UNITY” — Earlier this evening, I enjoyed the fellowship of some 20 other missionaries, church leaders, and missions committee members. Some were African, others were American, some were non-instrumental church of Christ, others were Christian Church, some were from the South, others from the North, some were sent ones, others were senders. In spite of all these differences, I was in awe at the atmosphere of harmony and unity that wove like a tapestry among us. One field worker summed it up to me in a one-on-one follow-up conversation: “God’s Spirit is blowing a wind of unity to all who will listen. I believe that those who refuse to accept it will be sidelined to a position outside the center of God’s will.” Whoa. Sobering. The cool thing was – this was the noninstrumental church of Christ guy. In former decades, his forefathers would probably have been convinced that I was sliding down the slippery slope to Hell. Now, he was citing statistics like … 70% of all non-instrumental church of Christ seminary students no longer make the instrument a test of fellowship, much less one of salvation.

This is good news for guys in my position. (Who wants to be cast into Hell? :-) ) There are probably similar things happening in the stream of faith that you identify as your own. Here are some key factors we’ll have to consider: a) What are the absolutes for you and your congregation/agency? In other words, what is the core of the core for you — doctrinally? b) Will you write that down, knowing full well that the moment you do, you’ve “fenced out” certain others? Or will you leave it verbal only, so you have a chance to explain it? c) What projects can you and your “new neighbors” embrace, in order that you can immediately go to work together? You see, some experts in conflict resolution say that newly-united movements profit from immediately getting to work on a project. Think of it this way: In a war, the definition of an ally is “someone shooting at the same enemy at which I’m shooting.” Go to work. You’ll form alliances that solidify relationships . . . and once you’re in a relationship, it’s much easier to be unified. Very intriguing. What’s your project going to be?

1. MISSIONARY TRAINING CAMP 2. “STUFF VOLUME IV” NOW AVAILABLE 3. GLOBAL CONSULTATION ON MUSIC AND MISSIONS 2006 4. SUMMER MINISTRY WITH MUSLIMS 5. SPECIAL PRAYER WEEK FOR UNREACHED DEJING ZHUANG OF CHINA 6. ANOTHER OPTION (BETTER?) FOR ANONYMOUS INTERNET WORK 7. THE NORTHERN CAPE COLOURED OF NW SOUTH AFRICA 8. BRIGADA BY THE NUMBERS 9. WANT TO HELP LIGHT A FIRE FOR BRIGADA? 10. THE BACKPAGE: “SYSTEMS” CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE 11. CLOSING STUFF

1. MISSIONARY TRAINING CAMP — Elijah Company’s next Missionary Training Camp is February 23-26, 2006. During those four days, they’ll share crucial highlights for missionary preparation and sending. See their web site http://www.elijahcompany.org for what others have said, their manifesto, course content and more. For applications write to elijah(at)elijahcompany(dot)org or call 757-226-3507. 2. “STUFF VOLUME IV” NOW AVAILABLE — “Stuff IV – Yet More Stuff you need to know about Doing Mission in Your Church” is the fourth volume of an encyclopedia of all the things you wanted to know about doing missions but didn’t know where to find. It is a compilation of one-page concepts, lists, outlines, forms, samples, and resources covering everything from Becoming a World Christian to Missions Web Sites. “Stuff” is available only on CD in Microsoft Word. A CD of all four volumes with cumulative index is available for $26 each (including shipping). Send a check (in U.S. Funds) to ACMC, Box 221, Brownsburg, IN 46112. Specify the “Stuff CD” and provide your postal address. See portions of the first two volumes and the cumulative index at http://www.davidmays.org/Resources/resmays.html 3. GLOBAL CONSULTATION ON MUSIC AND MISSIONS 2006 — The Global Consultation on Music and Missions will be held July 11-15 at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Celebrate what God is doing world- wide while learning about music and missions from such recognized experts as I-to Loh, Roberta King, Ronald Man, Mary Oyer, Steven Fry, John Witvliet, and others. Choose from over 30 informative breakout sessions on topics such as syncretism, promoting unity in blended cultural contexts both at home and abroad, and other facets of using culturally relevant music to reach and encourage others with the good news. GCoMM attendees from sponsoring organizations will be eligible for a 10 percent discount on the registration fee. Subscribe to receive free email GCoMM updates at http://www.gcommhome.org . For more information or details on how your church or organization can become a sponsor, write to info(at)gcommhome(dot)org . [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] GCoMM 2006 is made possible in part through a Worship Renewal Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. 4. SUMMER MINISTRY WITH MUSLIMS — Come join a two-, four-, or six-week ministry team to Muslim students and business people in Istanbul, Turkey June 15th to July 20th 2006. This is an opportunity to join an experienced/ministry team, make friendships with English speaking Turkish students and business people, do friendship evangelism, work with local churches and visit and historical sites in Turkey. The aim of the project is to work with local ministries and churches to help build the local churches. This is an ideal opportunity for a church group or for individual interested in getting started in Muslim ministry. For more information contact Doug dougnann(at)compuserve(dot)com or (509) 302-0027. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] 5. SPECIAL PRAYER WEEK FOR UNREACHED DEJING ZHUANG OF CHINA — Though they are part of a Gateway people group and receptive to the gospel, the Bible-less, unevangelized 1.1 million Zhuang in the Dejing dialect area continue to be greatly overlooked. If you’d like to bless the Dejing Zhuang with one of the most significant Christmas gifts possible, then join this prayer effort by e-mailing dejingzhuang(at)pobox(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] If you write “Send printable 2 page guide” in the Subject box they’ll email you a printable 1 page(front and back) PDF file with the prayer requests for all 7 days. If you write “Send me e-mails December 17-24” in the Subject box they’ll e-mail you one short prayer entry with a picture each day for seven consecutive days beginning December 17. 6. ANOTHER OPTION (BETTER?) FOR ANONYMOUS INTERNET WORK — Thanks to Paul in France for suggesting an alternative option for anonymous emails and browsing: Portable Apps Suite. This download allows you to carry all your standard applications on a USB thumbdrive, iPod, portable hard drive or any other portable media. It contains a portable web browser, email client, web editor, office suite, word processor, calendar/scheduler, instant messaging client and FTP client… all in one package, all preconfigured to work portably and be easy to back up. Find it at: http://johnhaller.com/jh/useful_stuff/portable_apps_suite/

Paul has tested it himself and the performance is certainly acceptable. A very good link that discusses this topic: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1849710,00.asp. There you will also find link to encryption tools for USB drives and other security tools. 7. THE NORTHERN CAPE COLOURED OF NW SOUTH AFRICA — Christian workers arrived in the small, desert village just on the border of Namibia and South Africa. If it is possible, this village was even poorer than the previous ones visited that week. One family lived in the shelter of a tree and everyone carried water from community taps. But even in this harsh climate, God is working. The Gospel was presented and a young man found new life in Jesus Christ! He was given a Bible and encouraged to grow in his newfound faith. The Christian workers pray that the next time they visit this village many others will want to know how they can have a new life in this desert. Adopt the Northern Cape Coloured people for prayer. Contact http://www.forgottenpeoples.info or the new email sf_swac(at)altonet(dot)co(dot)za [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] 8. BRIGADA BY THE NUMBERS — *** Total number of editions of Brigada Today since starting: 568, including this one *** Total pages of text written so far this year: 251 *** Total subscription cost charged to all users since beginning: 0 9. WANT TO HELP LIGHT A FIRE FOR BRIGADA? — You can do it with $25 or $250 or $2500. Just go to “sponsor” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a credit card), or just send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. 10. THE BACKPAGE: “SYSTEMS” CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE — If you’re like I am, “systems” can make a huge difference in your life. When I say “system” I mean that you’ve worked out a particular way of doing things and you do it that way every time, or you’ve decided to keep a particular thing in a particular place and now you always know where it is. Here are a few examples of “systems” that I’ve had to work out so I don’t drive myself crazy:

a) In the briefcase I use for my laptop, I have a little pouch in which I carry a “clicker” (radio-controlled rather than infra-red) to advance Powerpoint slides. I keep it there year-round, even though I actually only do an average of 2 or 3 presentations per month. But I noticed time and time again that I’d be up in front of people before I realized I had forgotten to pack my clicker. Now, even if I’ve already started the presentation, I can easily continue the generic intro. while I fish the pouch out of this particular pocket — and never break eye contact with the audience. So I have a system to keep me in business.

b) I try to get rid of all those little message slips or other notes that can accumulate from phone messages or reminders. I just transfer them to my to do list — in one place — along with all the associated phone numbers or other data. (I keep my to do list on my Treo cell phone/PDA, but a paper Day-timer or other calendar/journal would work the same way.) That way my life is all on one list, ready for action when I have the time.

c) I save up and purchase an 2 extra AC adaptors for my laptop, so I have 3 in all. I keep one plugged in at the office, one plugged in at home, and one packed all the time in my briefcase. In this way, I never have to pack up AC adaptors — ever. When I arrive at home or the office, I just plug in . . . and when I’m on the road, I feel relieved that I didn’t have to remember to pack it up before leaving home or the office.

These are 3 examples of simple systems. Maybe to you they seem rather elementary. If so, you probably have your life broken down into systems already. But for the rest of us, we could probably all use some work developing these approaches or routines. Start by identifying something that bugs you… something you forget, or something that seems jumbled or garbled. Then “think outside the box” to try to figure out a solution so you can handle it the same way each time you approach it. Take whatever steps necessary to build that system, then start with the next challenge.

In this way, life gets simpler as each day goes by . . . and less stressful. And less stress is good, because there are enough real reasons to be stressed beyond those that we could resolve more simply anyway. Beside… dealing with life by “systems” can cause us to feel like we’re in control . . . like we have impacted our reality, rather than becoming a victim of it.

So good luck. Go build a system and then celebrate the small stuff. :-)

1. A CALL TO PRAYER FOR TUNISIA 2. SEND GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL AIRTIME 3. GO EQUIPPED (TENTMAKER TRAINING) 4. FOOTSTEPS MAGAZINE 5. LET’S PRAYERFULLY LEARN ABOUT THE MUSLIM WORLD! 6. ONLINE ENCOURAGEMENT GROUP FOR WOMEN MISSIONARIES 7. WORD TO THE WISE ABOUT UB BULB PURIFICATION OF H20 8. FEEDBACK ON GOOGLE “GMAIL” 9. TO THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEY ON FOLLOWERSHIP: THANKS 10. HAVE SOMEONE SEARCH THE WEB FOR YOU! 11. RETREAT IN AFRICA 12. LOOKING FOR CONTACT INFORMATION ABOUT THAT CHINA OPPORTUNITY? 13. JOB OPENING AT INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN 14. WE’RE GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP AND SPONSORSHIPS 15. CLOSING STUFF

1. A CALL TO PRAYER FOR TUNISIA — There are more than 10 million people in the country of Tunisia, North Africa, with only about 300 following Jesus. This is a country rich in Christian history, but in real need of spiritual breakthrough today. Now you can join many others in praying for the Muslims of Tunisia. Caleb Project has produced a DVD on Tunisian Arabs, along with an accompanying Prayer Guide. The DVD shows the situation in Tunisia today, and includes a special interview with two leaders of the Christian Church in Tunisia. The Prayer Guide is a full-color booklet created to help Christians know how to strategically pray for Tunisian Arabs. The prices for these products are: $20 for the DVD; $2.50 for each Prayer Guide. For more information, or to place an order, please send an email to amanis(at)cproject(dot)com or call 303-459-5351. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] For more information on Caleb Project, log onto http://www.calebproject.org 2. SEND GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL AIRTIME — Here’s a service that allows missionary families here in the U.S. to keep in touch with their loved ones serving on the foreign mission field. They offer outstanding rates to anywhere in the world with clean, quality connections and can be used with any cellular or land line phone. Find out more and read other missionary testimonials at their website. You can even try it out for free! Look up rates to anywhere in the world. Click to: http://www.global-airtime.com or contact Andy cytechnologies(at)earthlink(dot)net toll-free in the USA 888-683-0653. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] 3. GO EQUIPPED (TENTMAKER TRAINING) — Here’s an organization that offers courses that are just 5 days long but contain an entire 2 week curriculum. Global Opportunities has increased their training programs in both numbers and locations. There is still time to register for the October 12-17, 2005 LTN Tentmaking Course in Pasadena CA at the US Center for World Mission. See them on the web at http://www.globalopps.org or write them an email at goequipped(at)globalopps(dot)org. 4. FOOTSTEPS MAGAZINE — Here’s a magazine for development workers around the world. TEARFund, UK’s evangelical NGO, produces this periodical with ideas for community development projects and support. It is particularly designed for a national Christian who may also be a second-language English speaker, and is equally useful to the mission community. Current and all back issues are available online in PDF format, and it is also available in printed form by post. http://tilz.tearfund.org/ (Thanks Tony!!!) 5. LET’S PRAYERFULLY LEARN ABOUT THE MUSLIM WORLD! — Perhaps you’ve already heard of the 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus which coincides with the annual Muslim fasting month of Ramadan: Oct 5 to Nov 3, 2005. This annual international mobilization (since 1993) calls Christians everywhere to pray for, learn about, and reach out to the Muslim peoples of the world, so that they may at least have an opportunity to consider God’s grace revealed in Jesus Christ, and that we may live peaceably and respectfully side-by-side. You can order the current prayer booklet from: http://www.ywam.org/prayer/30daysmuslim.html 6. ONLINE ENCOURAGEMENT GROUP FOR WOMEN MISSIONARIES — Are you a missionary woman on the field that could use some encouragement? “Oaks of Righteousness” Yahoo Group has been formed with you in mind. The members there hope you will find a safe place to walk this missionary journey with women on the same path, share life’s ups and downs, and prayer for one another. Just click on the following link http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oaks_of_righteousness/ and then chose “join group.” For more information please contact the group moderator at latviagirl1(at)yahoo(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] 7. WORD TO THE WISE ABOUT UB BULB PURIFICATION OF H20 — Mark wrote this past week with an important caution about using those bulbs to purify water. (See the 2005/09/02 BRIGADA TODAY). Apparently there are issues being considered when regular, stable electricity is a problem. Just a word to the wise . . . that other purification techniques might be more effective when your electricity isn’t as dependable. (Thanks Mark!) 8. FEEDBACK ON GOOGLE “GMAIL” — We continue to receive lots of responses to our items on Google’s “Gmail”. Frankly, judging by the passion of some of our readers, there must be something to this Gmail craze. (I think I’m going to have to check it out myself! :-) ) Perhaps one of the more studied responses was that of Justin: “While it is true that it’s difficult to secure gmail, its not impossible. First off, once you have logged in to gmail.com, then you can go to https://mail.gmail.com/mail/ (just adding the “s” after http) and the server will preserve the secure link for all of your connections thereafter. Granted that initial blast through is unsecure. One way to deal with this is to login, then once you see the “Loading” immediately close the browser, then reopen and go to the secure link. Once you’ve logged in, its a long time before your logged out anyway.

“But the far easier way to secure mail is simply to download mail in Outlook or Outlook Express or some other email client. The way Google Mail is set up, this is completely secure, done over an SSL link (and not working any other way). Granted you don’t get the web-based features of google search, but the great thing is that you get google’s spam protection and the ease of your typical email client. And depending on what client you use, you can integrate something like MSN Search or Google Search on your desktop, and find emails that way.”

Thanks, too, to Bob, who referred us to a study paper on the topic, from a Christian computer conference a couple of years ago. Find the PDF of the paper at: http://tinyurl.com/cf2qf

(Thanks Justin and Bob — and thanks to all the others who have written in on this topic!) 9. TO THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEY ON FOLLOWERSHIP: THANKS — Thanks once more to the 358 people who took part in the survey on followership, and to the 283 corresponding supervisors who came alongside to give comments on their respective team members. Last week I met with the Dean of my doctoral program and received the go ahead to begin the data analysis phase of the project. Again, this kind of project would have been impossible without the many great friends here at Brigada. These participants came from 192 different nonprofit organizations scattered literally all over the world. The survey instrument has been used previously on corporations in the public sector, but this is the first time its been employed to this extent among nonprofit mission agencies, humanitarian organizations, and churches. [Note: One interested reader recently wrote (postal mail) for more information about the project but neglected to enclose a return address. We’ll be happy to send more information it he or she will simply let us know where to send it.] Thanks again for your help and participation. Now to the number-crunching. 10. HAVE SOMEONE SEARCH THE WEB FOR YOU! — A site http://www.internetmissionsresearch.com was recently launched which proposes to do research for missionaries. This is in response to the growing amount of information on the web which is not searchable by ordinary search engines. This so called “deep web” contains up to 500 times as much information as the “surface” web. Primary documents, such as journal articles can often be found only by querying their respective databases one by one. It is hoped that providing a human powered search facility for missionaries will enable them to spend less time searching for and more time with quality materials. For more information see the website or contact Clarence at cbos(at)execulink(dot)com. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] This is a volunteer service and “space” is limited, so please be patient if requesting a search. 11. RETREAT IN AFRICA — Check out http://www.limpopo-lipadi.com for a reportedly excellent opportunity to acquire shares in a 32000ha Game Reserve in Botswana… Churches, individuals or companies can buy shares in this untouched, untamed, malaria-free part of Africa (about 450km northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa)… Since it is 100km from the nearest town… and has its own conference facilities… it makes for a wonderful retreat venue… church group break-away… or missionary resting place… For more information email jacques(dot)debruin(at)gmail(dot)com and ask Jacques any questions about the Reserve or go to http://www.limpopo-lipadi.com/contactus.asp and complete the form (tick “Jacques de Bruin” in the “Referred by” field as reference). 12. LOOKING FOR CONTACT INFORMATION ABOUT THAT CHINA OPPORTUNITY? — Oops. The original item didn’t contain the contact information (“GREAT COMMISSION COMPANY OPPORTUNITIES IN BEIJING” in last week’s Brigada Today). For this and other issues that come up following the initial publication of a Brigada Today, you can always go to the web edition to see if the contact information (or other edit) has been added/edited there. We posted this contact within a few short hours of the initial emailing of last week’s issue. And in fact, for any current issue of Brigada, just click to: http://www.brigada.org and in the first paragraph of text, find a link or two to the current issue. 13. JOB OPENING AT INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN — International Christian Concern (ICC) has an opening for a Chief Operating Officer (COO). ICC is an international human rights org. in the Washington DC area that serves the persecuted church. They are looking for a detailed individual with international experience as well as previous management experience. The COO that can manage their headquarters staff, provide general leadership, and coordinate field operations. You can see more detail at the following URL, which “wraps” because it’s so long: http://www.persecution.org/newsite/jobopenings.php?PHPSESSID=e6d7a26e78 11171f37942d5cbe94bd86 If you have trouble reassembling this link, just click on this smaller link which we created for ICC at tinylink: http://tinyurl.com/9dbps They are asking that all applicants apply through the web. If you don’t have web access you can email your resume and cover letter to icc(at)persecution(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] 14. WE’RE GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP AND SPONSORSHIPS — Thanks to the anonymous donor who gave $25, and to Dial-Abroad, which sponsored us with a $129 gift as a result of those who use Dial-Abroad’s service in July. (To learn more, visit: http://www.brigada.org/phone.html and choose “Dial-Abroad”. In addition, thanks to Andy for sending $10 and his encouraging note, ” Thank you for your efforts in getting our website out to other Missionary organizations and Missionary families via your Brigada Today newsletter. We have gained several new customers because of this. May the Lord continue to bless you and your Missionary news organization.” Learn more about Andy’s company, C Y Technologies Inc, by clicking to: http://www.global-airtime.com or by dialing 888-683-0653 in the USA, toll-free. This weeks’s gifts put us over the $8000 mark for 2005, a tremendous victory and a great milestone on our way to the goal of $16,576. We’re almost halfway there. Would you be able to make it official by providing that last $300 to bring us to 50%? If so, just click “sponsor” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a credit card), or just send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. If you *do* know of someone who might help with these expenses, please feel free to relay this update to them. And thanks for any support you can give.